The expression of vulgarity, force, severity and size

Phonaesthemes are a common phenomenon, but they are generally not in paradigmatic opposition like morphemes are ( Svantesson 2017 : 6). Reta, however, has a phonaesthemic contrast /l/~/r/, where /r/-colouring of neutral base words signifies an increase in vulgarity, intensity, size or severity (e.g. ɓela ‘bad’ vs. ɓera ‘terrible’, - ool ‘penis’ vs. - oor ‘cock’). This paper describes this phenomenon in detail, and provides a discussion as to...