comminutive

Comminutive is a term used in linguistics to describe a specific type of pluralization in certain languages. It refers to a process where a word's plural form is created by altering the word itself, often through internal vowel changes, consonant changes, or the addition of suffixes that are not simply a standard plural marker. This is distinct from regular pluralization, which typically involves adding "-s" or "-es" in English, for example.

In some languages, comminutive plurals can be irregular and may not follow a predictable pattern. This means that the plural form of a word might need to be learned individually, rather than being derived from a set of rules. Examples can be found in languages where sound changes within a word indicate plurality. This linguistic feature contributes to the diversity and complexity of grammatical structures across different languages. Understanding comminutive plurals helps linguists analyze the historical development and internal workings of these languages.