nominalille

Nominalille is a term used in linguistics to describe a class of nouns formed by attaching a diminutive-sense suffix to a base noun. The resulting unit functions as a noun in syntax and morphology while bearing semantics associated with small size, endearment, or familiar reference. In theoretical discussions, nominalilles are used to illustrate how affixal modification can create new lexical items without changing the lexical category of the base word.

Origin and typology: The term blends “nominal” with the suffix -ille, echoing diminutive patterns found in many languages (such as -elle, -let, or -chen). Nominalilles may appear in languages with suffixal morphology and can be productive or restricted to particular semantic fields, such as objects used for children, pets, or affective registers. In some analyses, nominalilles are treated as independent lexemes, while in others they are derived forms created during word formation.

Examples: In a hypothetical language, the base noun kar meaning “stone” could yield karille meaning “pebble” or “small stone.” The noun lana meaning “flower” might produce lanille meaning “bud” or “little flower.” In cross-linguistic analogy, English-like experiments might render a base term such as “book” as “bookille” or “booklet,” illustrating the same diminutive-derivative idea, though real use may differ across languages.

Notes: Nominalille is not a widely attested term in established grammars and remains primarily a theoretical or pedagogical construct for discussing diminutive nominalization and affixal morphology. It is closely related to broader topics in morphology, such as diminutives, nominalization, and affixation.