reduplications

Reduplication is a linguistic process in which a word or part of a word is repeated, often with little or no phonological change, to create a new word or to modify meaning. It is widespread across languages and can affect morphology, syntax, and phonology.

Full reduplication repeats the entire base word or stem, sometimes with a hyphen or stress shift. Examples include Indonesian and Malay forms such as orang-orang (people) and rumah-rumah (houses), where the base is duplicated to indicate plurality. In English, hyphenated forms like bye-bye or go-go also show full reduplication used for emphasis, repetition, or in set phrases.

Partial reduplication repeats only a portion of the base, often a syllable, and can convey iterative, distributive, or intensifying meanings. For instance, Tagalog and other Austronesian languages frequently use reduplication to mark aspect, frequency, or plurality, as in repeated syllables that modify the action rather than the noun itself. English and other languages also employ partial or selective reduplication in phonetic or stylistic contexts, including rhyming pairs like tick-tock or zig-zag.

Functions of reduplication vary by language and context. It can indicate plurality, habitual aspect, iterative action, intensity, duration, or affection and familiarity. In some languages, reduplication contributes to word formation and lexical derivation, while in others it serves as a purely grammatical or stylistic device.

Reduplications are common in many language families and interact with phonology, morphology, and syntax. They illustrate how repetition and phonetic rhythm can carry semantic and grammatical information beyond the base word.