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Diminutive first names


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Danky Franky
  Mar 22, 08, 18:39  #1

Polish has informal diminutive names that are used among friends. Is it also true that some Polish diminutive first names are used among intimate friends and with children? If so, is there a way to recognize the diminutives of the second type?

For example, among the following names, are there any of the second type?

Bogdan, Bogdanek, Bogu¶
Henryk, Heniek, Henio, Heniu¶
Stanisław, Stasiek, Stasio, Sta¶, Stacho
Ewa, Ewunia, Ewcia, Ewusia, Ewka

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Mafketis [Guest]
  Mar 22, 08, 19:23  #2

AFAICT diminutives of names are a question of individual convention.

That is, what diminutive a person prefers (or family or friends prefer) is based above all on the preferences of both sides. So the same person might go by different diminutives with different people or the person might have a strong preference for one.

The best guide is to pay attention to what other people call a person (and how they refer to themselves). With very good friends you have more leeway in imposing your own preferred diminutives on them (they'll usually be sports and make allowances for your foreign ways).

But beware, different diminutives have different emotional connotations, from more neutrally friendly, to strong affection, to more rough and ready pals. Use a form with -cha with a girl you're interested in and she'll assume you aren't. Use a form ending with -u¶ with a guy (especially in the vocative) and he may think you are interested in him.

Maybe even more interesting is diminutive use with regular nouns. Where I live ticket inspectors usually ask for bileciki instead of bilety, the dimunitive makes the request more polite. People in stores (especially their own) also use diminutives to make their merchandise more appealing.

English pet names are nowhere near as interesting or expressive as Polish (or other Slavic) diminutives and English simply cannot express the emotional connotations a well chosen Polish diminutive. They are a linguistic marvel and always repay any interest you show in them.

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