Ynkoarte nammen yn it Frysk

Abstract

Frisian has four types of hypocoristic names, viz. diminutive names, ‘real’ hypocoristics, names ending in -/i/ (-<y>), and shortened names. The latter are the subject of this article.
     Shortenend names are argued to be in accordance with the scheme ‘shortened name = diminutive name minus diminutive suffix’. This means that there is a strong formal relationship between these two name types, for which ample evidence is put forward.
These names derive from diminutive names by omitting the diminutive suffix. The morphological operation of ‘suffix subtraction’, however, is rare in Frisian morphology. In fact, it seems to be needed for the derivation of shortenend names only, which renders it a somewhat suspicious option.
     Shortened names occupy a position in between diminutive names, ‘real’ hypocoristics, and y-names, that is, they share properties with all these types of names (and differ from them as well). They thus have their own place in the Frisian landscape of names.