What linguistics reveals about the logic of emotions.

Diminutives belong to the emotive dimension of language, which contrasts with its rational aspect — or what Mr. Spock would call the logical aspect of language

So … because the Dad has a warm fuzzy feeling towards the Bernese mountain dog, he refers to him as "doggy”. This allows him to express that emotion. It does not mean that he thinks the dog is small. He is simply expressing an emotion—in this case, the emotion of a warm, fuzzy feeling towards the dog.

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