The Diseases of Language 435

already met TZU (p. 429). Then there is a suffix based on fiRH,
a still extant word for boy. Originally it gave the word with which
it went a diminutive meaning, and had the same function as the -ling
in duckling or goshng As such it became fused in such contractions

Parent

Chinese

Character

KATA-
KWA

Sound

Parent
hinese
'scter

Chi
Chs

SoLna

Chinese
Character

KAHA

Sound

V

tm

T

±

to

ife

ija

yu

1)

La

tr

yo

kt

a

ku

to

TV

ko

A

fa(ha)

IL

•9-

it

fifty

S

z.

shi

B

it

ffi

fofhoj

ta

FIG 44—PARENT CHINESE CHARACTERS OF THE KATAKANA
(OLDER) JAPANESE SYLLABARY
as LIPRH (Tittle ass) from LU (ass), or FERH (hght breeze) from
FENG (wind). Nowadays it has lost its former diminutive force, and
is added to words to indicate that they are thing-words, e g CHU'RH
(owner)
Another tnck which helps to reduce misunderstandings is the use
of mimeratives, words which usually follow a numeral, pointer word,