Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of repeating something over and again (or an instance thereof): The process or result of making a duplicate or copy; repetition.
   • A word formed by or containing a repeated syllable or speech sound (usually at the beginning of the word): A morphological process in linguistics where all or part of a word is repeated to create a new form, often indicating concepts like plurality, intensity, or continuous action.
   • The syllable added in a reduplicated word form: The specific repeated element itself within a reduplicated word.
   • Repetition of the final words of a sentence or line at the beginning of the next: A rhetorical or poetic device known as anadiplosis.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The reduplication of the experiment's steps was necessary for verification. (The repetition of the steps was required.)
  • Words like "bye-bye" and "papa" are examples of reduplication in English. (These words are formed by repeating a syllable.)
  • In the word "chit-chat," the "chit-" is the reduplication. (The first part is the repeated element.)
  • The poet used reduplication for effect: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate." (The word "anger" is repeated at the end of one clause and the start of the next.)

Advanced Usage

• In Linguistics: Reduplication is a common morphological process across languages. It can be:
  • Full reduplication: Repeating the entire word (e.g., "wishy-washy").
  • Partial reduplication: Repeating only a part of the word, like the first syllable or consonant (common in many languages, though less productive in modern English).
• Grammatical Function: It can mark grammatical categories. For example, in some languages, reduplication of a verb stem can indicate a continuous or habitual action.

Variants and Related Words

• Reduplicate (verb): To repeat or make double.
  • Some languages reduplicate the verb stem to form the past tense.
• Reduplicative (adjective): Characterized by or formed through reduplication.
  • "Tick-tock" is a reduplicative word.

Synonyms

• Repetition: The act of repeating.
• Duplication: The action of making an exact copy.
• Iteration: Repetition of a process.

Related Phrases

• Reduplicative compound: A compound word formed by reduplication (e.g., "flip-flop," "helter-skelter"). This is a specific type of compound, not the core meaning of "reduplication" itself.

Related Idioms

(While "reduplication" itself is a technical term, the concept is present in playful language.) - "Easy-peasy": A reduplicative phrase meaning very easy. - "Super-duper": A reduplicative phrase for emphasis, meaning excellent or very large.

Noun

1. the act of repeating over and again (or an instance thereof)
2. a word formed by or containing a repeated syllable or speech sound (usually at the beginning of the word)
3. the syllable added in a reduplicated word form
4. repetition of the final words of a sentence or line at the beginning of the next