This study focuses on the nominalizing and evaluative function of the -ie/y suffix with the purpose of investigating how the changes in the semantics (diminutive → pejorative) of the output units are connected to the conceptual processes that employ evaluative morphological forms. This study reports on the qualitative analysis of 63 examples of Adj+ie/y nominalizations (e.g. softie, brownie) collected from a range of descriptive dictionaries of English. The analysis of the data employs a usage-based approach to Morphopragmatics and the Conceptual Integration Theory in order to explore cognitive operations that underlie the formation of pejoratives. The findings show that with the activation of the meanings [+human] and [+adult], the concept diminution is reconfigured as ‘small/insignificant in value’, whose utmost degree is understood as pejoration. A multilevel analysis of such nominalizations indicates that these suffixed forms are affected by the aspect of bidirectionality: whilst an Adj+ie/y nominalization, such as blackie, is formally represented through the morphological concept of diminution, size → insignificant also activates through a conceptual integration process.

The derogatory meaning of slang words in Modern Greek can be reduced or increased with the use of diminutive or augmentative affixes respectively. The use of evaluative affixes often brings about a change in the grammatical gender of the derived word. A change of gender with or without the use of evaluative suffixes shows, among other things, the speaker’s attitude towards the referent. In general, diminutive words and derived words that keep the gender of the base are used with a less derogatory meaning than the word-base. On the other hand, derivative words that do not maintain the base gender are used with a more insulting/pejorative meaning than the word-base.