Derivational Suffixes

Morthic roots are tough and stable. New words are often formed by attaching derivational suffixes or compound elements to a root.

These suffixes often describe survival-relevant qualities: smallness, danger, strength, direction, kinship, or origin.

Derivational Formula

[ROOT] + [DERIVATIONAL SUFFIX]

Many derivational forms are written with hyphens in formal transcription.

Common Derivational Suffixes

Diminutive

The diminutive marks something small, young, familiar, or safe.

Examples:

• kraz = kin / family

• kraz-ik = child / small kin

• vas = fresh snow / new

• vas-ik = infant / fresh-snow child

Augmentative

The augmentative marks something massive, intense, dangerous, or beyond ordinary scale.

Examples:

• kuz = cave bear

• kuz-uur = terrifying / cave-bear-like

• osk = water

• osk-uur = sea / massive water

Adjectival -en

The suffix -en means “of” or “characterized by.”

Examples:

• zorn = fire

• zorn-en = of fire / burning / warm

• mag = strength

• mag-en = strong

• aak = past / survival age

• aak-en = ancient / old / surviving