From morphophonology to sociolinguistics: the case of Akan hypocoristic day-names.

Abstract

During hypocoristization in Akan, such morphological processes as compounding and reduplication as well as such (morph)phonological processes as deletion, tonal change, and vowel harmony take place. Akan hypocoristic personal day-names provide an insight into morphological status marking. Hypocoristic forms may be used in a superior-to-subordinate context. When used in a superior-to-subordinate interactive context, hypcoristic names express affection, tenderness, playfulness, warmth, and the idea of being loved and of being considered worth caring for. It may also denote smallness or diminutiveness of the referent. Among equals, hypocoristic names may be used to show playfulness, oneness or 'we'ness and sometimes, teasing. In a subordinate-to-superior situation, hypocoristic forms, if not preceded by a polite terminal addressive (i.e. a word or an expression noting deference), express teasing, disrespect towards the referent, unusual familiarity with the referent and/or an unusual friendliness on the part of the speaker. It may also suggest that the referent is not respectable.