korduse

Korduse is a term used in semiotics and ethnomusicology to describe a pattern of repetition that recurs across different levels of a cultural artifact. It is applied to music, poetry, storytelling, and ritual performance to analyze how repeated elements contribute to structure and meaning. The word's precise origin is uncertain; the term was proposed by scholars in the late 20th or early 21st century to capture cross-cultural repetition-based patterns. In practice, korduse encompasses several types of repetition, including exact repetition of a motif, variation on a motif across verses, and cyclical repetition that closes a musical or narrative unit. It also covers layered repetition, where a motif recurs at multiple scales simultaneously (e.g., a refrain that echoes within stanzas and within the larger work).

Korduse serves several functions: it reinforces memory and expectation, creates rhythmic or thematic unity, and signals transitions or climactic moments. In music, it is often realized as ostinato-like figures, refrains, or recurring melodic cells. In poetry and storytelling, korduse manifests as recurrent phrases, parallel lines, or recurring motifs that bind a narrative. Scholars use korduse to compare traditions and to discuss how repetition shapes audience engagement across cultures.

Further reading includes works on repetition in folklore and music theory, as well as cross-cultural studies of motif recurrence.