reˌduplication: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Linguistic, Technical, Formal
Quick answer
What does “reˌduplication” mean?
The action or process of repeating something exactly or with a slight change.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action or process of repeating something exactly or with a slight change; specifically, in linguistics, a morphological process where all or part of a word is repeated.
In broader use, it can refer to any process of doubling or repeating for effect, emphasis, or grammatical function. In literature, it may denote rhetorical repetition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows the standard pattern (UK: 'reduplication', US: 'reduplication').
Connotations
Equally technical and academic in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “reˌduplication” in a Sentence
N + of + N (reduplication of the syllable)V + N (undergo reduplication)Adj + N (phonological reduplication)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reˌduplication” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The language allows speakers to reduplicate the adjective for emphasis.
- One can reduplicate that morpheme to form a plural.
American English
- The grammar of the language lets you reduplicate the syllable.
- You can reduplicate the root to intensify the meaning.
adjective
British English
- The reduplicative process is highly productive in the language.
- We observed a reduplication pattern in child speech.
American English
- The reduplicative morphology is fascinating.
- This is a clear case of reduplicative formation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in linguistics, philology, and language studies papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of discussing language.
Technical
Core term in descriptive and theoretical linguistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reˌduplication”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reˌduplication”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reˌduplication”
- Mispronouncing as /red-ju-pli-.../ instead of /ree-du-pli.../.
- Using it as a synonym for general 'repetition' in non-linguistic contexts.
- Misspelling as 'reduplication'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In general terms, they are synonyms, but in linguistics, 'reduplication' is a specific, rule-governed morphological process for word formation, not just any repetition.
Yes, but it's not a major grammatical process. Examples are mostly informal or child-language words like 'bye-bye', 'no-no', 'puff-puff', and onomatopoeic words like 'tick-tock'.
Total reduplication repeats the entire word or root (e.g., Malay 'rumah' [house] -> 'rumah-rumah' [houses]). Partial reduplication repeats only a segment, like the first syllable or consonant-vowel sequence (e.g., Tagalog 'sulat' [write] -> 'susulat' [will write]).
No. Reduplication specifically involves the repetition of phonological material from the same root or stem. Compounds like 'fingerprint' join two distinct lexical items.
The action or process of repeating something exactly or with a slight change.
Reˌduplication is usually academic, linguistic, technical, formal in register.
Reˌduplication: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriː.dʒuː.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌri.duː.plɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a word saying its name TWICE: 'Bye-bye' is a perfect REDUPLICATION – the first part is REPEATED to form the whole word.
Conceptual Metaphor
LINGUISTIC STRUCTURE IS A PATTERN (the pattern is one of copying/repeating).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is an example of reduplication?