Deminutīvu evaņģēliskais lietojums Kristofa Fīrekera garīgajās dziesmās

This study examines the evangelical use of diminutives in the spiritual songs of Christoph Fürecker (1612–1685), a significant yet understudied figure in Latvian literature, religious culture, and Lutheran church history. Fürecker’s approximately 180 hymns, composed in the 17th century, advanced the development of the Latvian language, promoted Christian faith, and laid the foundations for Latvian poetic tradition. His works align with Martin Luther’s concept of hymns as a “living catechism” (Leaver, 1997), employing simple, accessible language to teach faith and engage congregations in worship. The hallmark of his poetics is the extensive use of diminutives—forms expressing endearment or diminution, such as “Dieviņš” (little God), “Jēzuliņš” (little Jesus), and “bērniņi” (little children)—which imbue his texts with emotional warmth and intimacy. This stylistic choice was a deliberate strategy to make the Gospel message accessible to 17th-century Latvian peasants, who often perceived Christianity as a foreign, German-Baltic-dominated doctrine. The study analyzes diminutives as a theological and linguistic tool for inculturating the Christian message within the Latvian context, emphasizing God’s immanence, believers’ humility, and eschatological hope, thereby reducing alienation from the faith. Grounded in functional linguistics (Halliday, 1985), the analysis highlights the pragmatic roles of diminutives in conveying theological content, fostering emotional connection, and ensuring textual rhythm. The research underscores Fürecker’s role as a pioneer in integrating Lutheran theology with Latvian linguistic and cultural traditions, offering a model for expressing faith in local languages that remains relevant amidst contemporary challenges of secularization and globalization.