Simple form. | Diminutive form. | |
—ais. | ||
| A woman | Eekwâ | Eekwâz-ais. |
| A partridge | Pinâ | Pin-ais. |
| A woodcock | Mâimâi | Mâim-ais. |
| An island | Minnis | Minnis-ais. |
| A grape | Shômin | Shômin-ais. |
| A knife | Môkoman | Môkoman-ais. |
—ees. | ||
| A stone | Ossin | Ossin-ees. |
| A river | Seebi | Seeb-ees. |
| A pigeon | Omimi | Omim-ees. |
| A bison | Pizhik´i | Pizhik-ees. |
| A potatoe | Opin | Opin-ees. |
| A bird | Pinâisi | Pinâish-ees. |
—ôs. | ||
| A moose | Môz | Môz-ôs. |
| An otter | Nigik | Nigik-ôs. |
| A reindeer | Addik | Addik-ôs. |
| An elk | Mushkôs | Mushkos-ôs. |
| A hare | Wâbôs | Wâbôs-ôs. |
| A box | Mukuk | Mukuk-ôs. |
—aus. | ||
| A bass | Ogâ | Og-âs. |
| A medal | Shôniâ | Shôni-âs. |
| A bowl | Onâgun | Onâg-âns. |
| A bed | Nibâgun | Nibâg-aûns. |
| A gun | Pâshkizzigun | Pâshkizzig-âns. |
| A house | Wakyigun | Wakyig-àns. |
In the four last examples, the letter n, of the diminutive, retains its full sound.
The use of diminutives has a tendency to give conciseness to the language. As far as they can be employed they supersede the use of adjectives, or prevent the repetition of them. And they enable the speaker to give a turn to the expression, which is often very successfully employed in producing ridicule or contempt. When applied to the tribes of animals, or to inorganic objects, their meaning, however, is, very nearly, limited to an inferiority in size or age. Thus, in the above examples, pizhik-ees, signifies a calf, omim-ees, a young pigeon, and ossin-ees, a pebble &c. But inin-ees, and ogim-âs, are connected with the idea of mental or conventional as well as bodily inferiority.
1. I saw a little chief, standing upon a small island, with an inferior medal about his neck.
Ogimâs n’gi wâbumâ nibowid minnisainsing onâbikowân shoniâsun.
2. Yamoyden threw at a young pigeon.
Ogi pukkitalwun omimeesun Yamoyden.
3. A buffalo calf stood in a small stream.
Pizhikees ki nibowi sibeesing.
4. The little man fired at a young moose.