Cultural Meanings of ‘Small:’ Similar yet Different Semantic Networks of Diminutives in Thai and South Korean
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
22070656
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105011400807
Journal Title
Journal on Asian Linguistic Anthropology
Volume
6
Issue
3
Start Page
1
End Page
23
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal on Asian Linguistic Anthropology Vol.6 No.3 (2024) , 1-23
Suggested Citation
Khammee K., Rhee S. Cultural Meanings of ‘Small:’ Similar yet Different Semantic Networks of Diminutives in Thai and South Korean. Journal on Asian Linguistic Anthropology Vol.6 No.3 (2024) , 1-23. 23. doi:10.47298/jala.v6-i3-a1 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/111449
Title
Cultural Meanings of ‘Small:’ Similar yet Different Semantic Networks of Diminutives in Thai and South Korean
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Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
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Abstract
Lexemes denoting ‘small’ typically undergo a range of semantic or functional extensions either as free-standing lexical forms, or as weakly-grammaticalized derivational morphemes, or even fully grammatical forms. This research analyzes diminutive expressions in the two languages Thai and South Korean, following an extended ethnography of the two languages in each respective ethni0-linguistic context. Diminutives in these two languages have similarities in their source lexemes and certain developmental patterns along elegant conceptual networks. However, the two languages reveal intriguing differences in semantic extension patterns, i.e., most notably, the Thai extension pattern is ‘small therefore cute,’ whereas the South Korean extension pattern becomes one of ‘small therefore contemptible’.