Pejorative suffixes and combining forms in English by José A. Sánchez Fajardo

Abstract

Like the first lines in a novel can set the tone for a book so do the opening lines of this book under review: ‘The need to semantically depreciate standard words is a linguistic universal. English therefore is no exception’ (p. 1). This is a rather polite way of saying humans need ways to express their dislike and even hatred of one another or of other things. While this may seem like a sad indictment of our species it is useful understanding the process by which these negative expressions develop.