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Questions & Answers about Bu azınlığı azımsama.
How does the -ımsa suffix work in the word azımsama?
The suffix -(I)msA derives verbs that mean 'to perceive as' or 'to find something to be [adjective]'. Attached to az (little/few), it creates azımsamak, meaning 'to consider something too little' or 'to underestimate the amount'. The final -ma is the negative imperative suffix, meaning 'don't'.
Can I use küçümsemek instead of azımsamak here?
They are similar but not perfectly interchangeable. Azımsamak (from az) is specifically about underestimating quantity or amount. Küçümsemek (from küçük, small) uses the same suffix but means to belittle, look down on, or underestimate someone's worth or ability. Here, the speaker is warning against thinking the minority's numbers are too small to matter.
Why is there a ğ in azınlığı?
The base word is azınlık (minority). Because it is the specific direct object of the verb (indicated by bu, meaning 'this'), it takes the definite accusative suffix -ı. Adding a vowel to a noun ending in k triggers consonant mutation, changing the k to ğ.
Do the words azınlığı and azımsama share the same root?