475 



- In the last four 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 con- 

 tempt. 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 peb- 

 ble, &c. But inin-ees, and ogim-ds, are connected with the idea of 

 mental or conventional as well as bodily inferiority. 



