The Diminutive Suffixes and the Diminutive Tone Sandhi in Ningde Dialect,Fujian Province

There are two diminutive suffixes in Ningde dialect.[kiaη■]囝is connatural, which is remains as a productive diminutive suffix denoting general smallness.[tsi■]子is from certain predominant dialects,which is no longer active as a diminutive suffix under the shadow of [kiaη■].There are two types of diminutive tone sandhi involved,high-level and high-falling respectively,which are mainly used for names,kinship terms and in children language.The tone sandhi rule is to exaggerate the upper limit of the tone pitch on the basis of the original tone pattern to show familiarity and affection.The diminutive suffixes and the diminutive tone sandhi in Ningde dialect have a division of labor in terms of function.