Pezhemskaya M.D., Tyurneva T.V. Actualization of categories of diminutivity and augmentativity in English in gender aspect
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The paper examines gender‑specific features of the use of diminutivity and augmentativity in English. The research problem lies in the insufficient empirical verification of hypotheses by American sociolinguists (J. Coates, J. Holmes, D. Tannen, R. Lakoff) regarding the use of expressive vocabulary in female and male speech practices. The empirical corpus consists of data from a survey of 94 English speakers, including 8 questions on the frequency of use, self‑analysis, examples, and stereotypes of diminutives and augmentatives in the English linguistic worldview. A number of methods have been applied in the course of the study, among them are as follows: the method of continuous sampling of linguistic material from respondents' questionnaires, the method of linguistic description and classification of diminutive and augmentative units, contextual and pragmatic analysis of their use, comparative analysis of the characteristics of male and female speech, as well as elements of quantitative analysis for statistical processing of the data obtained. The main results confirm the hypothesis the women more frequently use diminutives, while men use augmentatives for expressive intensification. The observations and the conclusions made contribute to the field of sociolinguistics and methods of teaching intercultural communication.
Authors: Pezhemskaya, Marina, Тюрнева, Татьяна
Institution: Irkutsk State University
Language: English
Topic: Gender Studies in Language
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204033947