affectonym

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Polish afektonim, Ukrainian афектонім (afektonim), Russian аффектоним (affektonim), etc. By surface analysis, affect +‎ -onym.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈfɛk.təˌnɪm/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

affectonym (plural affectonyms)

1. (non-native speakers' English, linguistics) A term that expresses affection; a term of endearment.
   • 2013, Kazimierz Sikora, Barbara Żebrowska, “Traditional Polish lullabies”, in Liisi Laineste, Dorota Brzozowska, Władysław Chłopicki, editors, Estonia and Poland: Creativity and Tradition in Cultural Communication, volumes 2 (Perspectives on national and regional identity), Tartu: ELM Scholarly Press, →DOI, →ISBN, page 186:

     Affective expressions and diminutives directly enhance the persuasive function. Replacing the name with an affectonym or some other affective expression is very common practice in the Polish language. All names transform in this way, and their pleasant sound will encourage the child to fall asleep.