Kazakh hypocorisms in a comparative perspective

The article deals first and foremost with Kazakh hypocorisms. This category is intertwined with the categories of the Diminutive and the Vocative, as well as with the category of subjective evaluation of reality, in particular in the formation of endearment and honorific terms. Diminutive markers may build hypocorisms and vocative forms (along with building new lexemes), and hypocorisms, together with endearment and honorific formations of nouns expressing interpersonal relations, may act as vocatives. Each language has its own system for expressing these categories, comprising both grammatical and lexical devices. Hypocorisms are built in very different ways in Turkic languages, employing affixation (e.g. diminutive, endearment and honorific affixes) and other means (syncopation, ellipsis, etc.). Kazakh hypocorisms are formed with specialized affixes that are used exclusively to build endearment (affectionate) and honorific hypocorisms from reduced person noun stems, mostly not used as separate lexemes. Diminutive affixes on common nouns do not build hypocorisms. In contrast, Tuvan practically does not use any diminutive, endearment or honorific affixes to build hypocorisms, as the respective morphemes have been incorporated into Tuvan full names; instead various types of ellipsis and syncopation of full names serve this end. Most South Siberian languages (Shor, Altai, Khakas) use "general" diminutive markers, also applied to common nouns as well to express "objective" evaluation of the size of their referents. Used with person names and nouns expressing interpersonal relations, such diminutive affixes fulfill the function of subjective evaluation of reality, being expressive language means.