Diminutives and insignificance, augmentatives and ‘monstrosity’: examples of class re-assignment in Swahili

Abstract

The terms ‘diminutive’ and ‘augmentative’ are well known and dealt with at some length in African linguistics. The notions of ‘insignificance’ and ‘monstrosity’ are rarely covered. In pursuing the theme of size we attempt with this article to fill the gaps in relation to Swahili (with special reference to the Swahili speech of Mombasa).