The Usage and Standardization of Feminatives in Slovenian Language – An Analysis of User Dilemmas

Abstract

This article discusses dilemmas that have been sent to the Language Consulting Service of the ZRC SAZU Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language by users and are related to feminatives in Slovenian, also shedding light on these dilemmas from the perspective of wider societal developments. Most dilemmas are connected to feminatives that are not included in dictionaries or are unfamiliar, but dilemmas often also arise when multiple feminatives are included in dictionaries or viable in terms of word formation. Though the Language Consulting Service is integrated into the search system of the Fran dictionary portal, the feminatives considered, which were not yet included in dictionaries when the corresponding questions were submitted, are at the time of writing still not included, which leads us to the question of a systematic treatment and dictionary presentation especially for feminatives that are uncommon in usage, which are most frequently the subjects of dilemmas in the Language Consulting Service.

doi:10.5671/ca.46.3.2