Innovative Designation of Diminution in the Writings of Abraham Shlonsky

This paper analyzes and morphologically categorizes the numerous linguistic innovations coined by the famous poet, journalist, and translator Avraham Shlonsky to express various shades and aspects of diminution. It demonstrates, in particular, that such innovations are especially common in his translations and that most of them are formed linearly rather than discontinuously, through the sophisticated and often unique use of various means, such as combinations of suffixes and reduplications. Apparently, in translating from source languages with a rich array of diminutions, especially Russian, Shlonsky felt compelled to innovate in order to remain faithful to the original. His own Hebrew oeuvre was also affected but less directly and therefore to a lesser extent.