Abstract:
Studies of diminutives in the Slovene language have so far mostly focused on nominal diminutives. This study, however, focuses on verbal diminutives which are the result of formation with modification. Such verbs are always marked and express an action which is realized at a lower degree compared to what is expected or usual. For this reason they carry a connotation compared to their non-diminutive alternatives. The regular formation process involves a synchronic opposition between the verb expressing a regular action (stopati ‘make steps’) and the verb expressing such action at a lower degree (stopicljati ‘make small steps’).
