Formacje z sufiksem -ę (-ęt-) w XVI-XVIII w. w Polsce południowej

Abstract

Formations with suffixes -ę, -ęta, -ąt originally appeared in the whole region of Poland, later the area was shrinking and today suffix -ę can only be found in the dialects of south-western Poland, while suffix -ak prevailed in the north-west. Suffix -ę used to be typical for the category of young creatures’ names, but it also appeared in other categories, including patronymics, where it was alive in the 17th century, which is illustrated in the historical records of Kasina Wielka (Księgi gromadzkie wsi Kasina Wielka). In the analysed region formations with -ę are still alive in the category of young creatures’ names. They have a diminutive-hipocoristic character (e.g. <bycó>, <żyfcó>, <żopó> etc.), while in other categories, including patronymics, they have disappeared completely in this area.