COMMON PATTERNS OF WORD-FORMATION IN BALKAN LANGUAGES: THE CASE OF DIMINUITIVE SUFFIXES

This paper discusses some linguistic features whichare common to Albanian, Slavic languages in the Balkans, Modern Greek and Romanianwith a special emphasis on the use of diminutive suffixes, which are not only used to express smallness but also affection. The paper argues that the use of such word-formation devices is not simply a linguistic choice, but it is also a spiritual andpsychological manifestation. It also explores the influence these diminutive suffixes have on each-other in these different Balkan langugages. The paper concludes with a discussion of which Balkan language has influenced the other languages the most and which languages display more similarities than others.