gentagelse

Gentagelse is a Danish noun meaning the act of repeating or recurrence. It can denote repetition of an action, a statement, a sound, or a process. The term is used across disciplines to describe recurrence or reiteration.

Etymology and usage: Gentagelse is derived from the Danish verb gentage, meaning to repeat; related cognates exist in Norwegian and Swedish. The word functions as a general term for any instance of copying, reiterating, or reoccurring events, and it can be applied in both concrete and abstract contexts.

In linguistics and rhetoric, gentagelse refers to a basic device that creates emphasis, cohesion, or rhythm through repetition of words, phrases, or syntactic structures. In literature, deliberate gentagelse can enhance meaning, establish motifs, or influence pacing. As a broader category, it encompasses techniques such as anaphora and epistrophe, though those terms describe more specific patterns of repetition.

In music, gentagelse describes the repeating of melodies, motifs, or sections. Repetition shapes form and listener recognition, appearing as recurring refrains, ostinati, or da capo structures, and it often contributes to cohesion and structure within a composition.

In science and education, replication and repetition are valued for reliability and learning. Repeating experiments or measurements helps verify results, while repetition in study routines supports memory consolidation and skill acquisition.

Gentagelse thus functions as a cross-disciplinary concept describing anything that recurs or is performed again, from everyday actions to complex artistic or scientific processes. See also repetition, recurrence, refrain, motif.