Emotive Suffigierung im spanischsprachigen Comic

Zu pragmatischen Funktionen der Diminutivsuffixe in Quinos Mafalda

Abstract

This article examines the pragmatic functions of diminutive suffixes in the Argentinean comic Mafalda by Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón (Quino). As a sign of spoken colloquial language, diminutives are often found in the language of proximity or in the written language in the so-called fictional orality. Especially comics contain this particular form of graphical realization of conceptual orality (Koch & Oesterreicher ²2011). From the perspective of diminutive research, various sociolinguistic aspects support the decision of choosing Mafalda as the subject of analysis. In addition, so far only a few studies have been dedicated to fictional orality in Spanish comic books. For this reason, the present paper deals with the analysis of the different readings of the suffixes. The close-to-text interpretation of the diminutives shows a majority of meliorative uses, which is consistent with the exclusive use of the suffix ‑ito, preferred in Argentina and predominantly positively connoted. Usually, there is a combination of objectively diminishing and affective reading, which happens mainly due to extra-linguistic factors. The dominant use of suffixes to express affection or familiarity also fits well into the typical way of speaking with children.