ReDuplications

 

Reduplication, in linguistics, is a morphological process by which the root or stem of a word, or part of it, is repeated.

Reduplication is used in inflections to convey a grammatical function, such as plurality, intensification, etc., and in lexical derivation to create new words. It is often used when a speaker adopts a tone more "expressive" or figurative than ordinary speech and is also often, but not exclusively, iconic in meaning. Reduplication is found in a wide range of languages and language groups, though its level of linguistic productivity varies.

Reduplication is the standard term for this phenomenon in the linguistics literature. Other terms that are occasionally used include cloning, doubling, duplication, and repetition.

A recent study involving brain imaging found that newborn babies are drawn to words that have repeated syllables. According to the study, this explains the widespread presence of reduplicants such as 'mama' and 'dada' in many of the world's languages.

 

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English uses some kinds of reduplication, mostly for informal expressive vocabulary. There are three types:

• Rhyming reduplication: claptrap, hokey-pokey, honey-bunny, razzle-dazzle, slim jim, super-duper, teenie-weenie, wingding

Although at first glance "Abracadabra" appears to be an English rhyming reduplication it in fact is not; instead, it is derived from the Aramaic formula "Abəra kaDavəra" meaning "I would create as I spoke")

• Exact reduplications (baby-talk-like): bye-bye, choo-choo, night-night, no-no, pee-pee, poo-poo

Couscous is not an English example for reduplication, since it is taken from a French word which has a Maghrebi origin.

• Ablaut reduplications: bric-a-brac, chit-chat, criss-cross, kitty-cat, knick-knack, jibber-jabber, splish-splash, zig-zag

In the ablaut reduplications, the first vowel is almost always a high vowel and the reduplicated ablaut variant of the vowel is a low vowel. There is also a tendency for the first vowel to be front and the second vowel to be back.

None of the above types are particularly productive, meaning that the sets are fairly fixed and new forms are not easily accepted, but there is another form of reduplication that is used as a deprecative called shm-reduplication (or schm-reduplication) that can be used with most any word; e.g. baby-shmaby or car-shmar. This process is a feature of American English from Yiddish, starting among the American Jews of New York City, then the New York dialect and then the whole country.

When the slang -ma- infix is used on a two-syllable word with an initial open syllable, the second syllable is reduplicated and the infix appears in between, though often the first instance of the reduplicated syllable is reduced to consonant-schwa. Thus from oboe we get oboe-ma-boe or oba-ma-boe, and from purple we get purple-ma-ple or purpa-ma-ple (Yu 2004).

Contrastive focus reduplication. Exact reduplication can be used with contrastive focus (generally where the first noun is stressed) to indicate a literal, as opposed to figurative, example of a noun, or perhaps a sort of Platonic ideal of the noun, as in "Is that carrot cheesecake or carrot CAKE-cake?".^[3] This is similar to the Finnish use mentioned above. An extensive list of such examples is found in [1].

More can be learned about English reduplication in Thun (1963), Cooper and Ross (1975), and Nevins and Vaux (2003).ㅇ

English gitaigo: Flip-Flop Words
ReDuplications
http://www.trussel.com/flipflop.htm
(words in parentheses not found in Webster's III)
ack-ack	(antsy-pantsy)	argy-bargy	artsy-craftsy
aye aye	aye-aye	baba	barabara
BB	bebop	beebee	beriberi
bibi	bigwig	blackjack	bonbon
boo-boo	(boob-tube)	boogie-woogie	boohoo
bowwow	bric-a-brac	buddy-buddy	bugaboo
bugbear	bulbul	bumpety-bump	by-by, bye-bye
bye-bye	(caca)	cagmag	cancan
cha-cha(-cha)	chalk-talk	chichi	chiffchaff
chin-chin	chitchat	chocho	choochoo
chowchow	chuck(-a)-luck	(chug-a-lug)	claptrap
click-clack	clickety-clack	clickety-click	cling-clang
clink-clank	clinkety-clank	clinkety-clink	clip-clop
clip-clop	clippety-clop	(clitter-clatter)	cocoa
cookie	couscous	crackerjack	(cring-cling)
cringle-crangle	crinkle-crankle	crinkum-crankum	crisscross
cuscus	deadhead	diddle-daddle	dig-dig
dik-dik	dillydally	(dindin)	ding-a-ling
dingdong	divi-divi	dodo	(doodoo)
downtown	drip-drip	duk-duk	dumdum
eager beaver	even Steven	falderal	fancy pants
fat cat	fee-faw-fum	fee-fo-fum	feery-fary
fiddle-faddle	FIFO	fifty-fifty	fizgig
flag bag	flapdoodle	flapjack	flatfoot
Fleet Street	flibberti-gibberty	flibbertigibbet	flick-flack
flimflam	flip-flap	flip-flop	flipperty-flopperty
flippity-flop	(flower power)	flubdub	fluffy-ruffle
flyby	fofarraw	folderol	foo-foo
foofaraw	foofoorah	forfar	four-door
four-four	frank bank	(frizzle-frazzle)	froufrou
(fuddle-duddle)	fuddy-duddy	funny-money	furfur
fussbudget	fuzzy-guzzy	fuzzy-wuzzy	gaga
geegaw	(Georgy-Porgy)	gewgaw	(gibber-jabber)
gobbledygook	gogo	goo-goo	goody-goody
grandstand	(gruesome twosome)	grugru	gugu
ha-ha	habnab	handy-andy	handy-dandy
handy-pandy	handy-spandy	hanky-pank	hanky-panky
hari-kari	harum-scarum	haw-haw	he-he
hee-haw	hee-hee	heebie-jeebies	(heh-heh)
heigh-ho	hell's bells	hellhole	helter-skelter
(Henny-Penny)	heyday	hi-fi	(hickory-dickory-dock)
higgledy-piggledy	higglety-pigglety	high-high	(highty-flighty)
highty-tighty	hillbilly	(hip-hip-hooray)	(hip-hop)
(hipper-dipper)	(hipperty-skipperty)	hippety-hop	hippity-hoppity
hirdie-girdie	hirdum-dirdum	hiwihiwi	(ho-ho)
ho-hum	hobnob	hobo	hobson-jobson
hocus-pocus	hoddy-doddy	hodgepodge	hogan-mogan
hogen-mogen	hoi polloi	hoity-toity	hokey-pokey
hokus-pokus	holus-bolus	(holy-moley)	honky-tonk
hoo-ha	hoodoo	hoopoe	hoopoo
hootchy-kootchy	hot pot	hot spot	hotchpotch
hotnot	hotshot	hotsy-totsy	house mouse
housey-housey	hubba-hubba	hubble-bubble	hubbub
(huff & puff)	(huff-duff)	huff-snuff	huff-snuff
(hufty-magufty)	hugger-mugger	huhu	hull-gull
hullabaloo	humbug	humdinger	humdrum
humdudgeon	humhum	hummum	humpty-dumpty
humstrum	hunky-dory	hurdy-gurdy	hurly-burly
hurrbur	hurry-scurry	hurry-skurry	hush-hush
hustle-bustle	ilang-ilang	ill will	itsy-bitsy
itty-bitty	jeepers creepers	(jet set)	jib-o-jib
jig-a-jig	jig-a-jog	jig-jig	jig-jog
jig-joggy	jigaboo	jiggery-pokery	jiggumbob
jigjoggy	jim-dandy	jimjams	jinglejangle
jipijapa	jirajara	joukerypawkery	juju
juju	kai-kai	kaka	kakkak
kavakava	kawakawa	kegmeg	khuskhus
kiekie	killer-diller	killickinnic	kinchin
(King Kong)	kinnikinnick	kit-cat	kit-kat
(kitchy-koo)	kittle cattle	(kitty-cat)	kiwi
klop-klop	knick-knack	(knock-knock)	(knockity-knock)
(kobo)	koko	koko	koodoo
kowtow	kudu, koudou	kuku	kukukuku
kumkum	kuskus	la-di-dah	lab-lab
lablab	lalapalooza	lallygag	lap-lap
lapo-lapo	lapu-lapu	lardy-dardy	lavalava
lazy daisy stich	(lead head)	(legal beagle)	(legal eagle)
Lei Day	Lib-Lab	libidibi	lickety-brindle
lickety-cut	lickety-split	lillypilly	linsey-woolsey
loa loa	locofoco	log-log	lollygag
lolo	lovey-dovey	low-low	lulu
mahimahi	mama	matamata	(matta-matta)
MauMau	May Day	(mellow yellow)	miminy-piminy
mishmash	motmot	muckamuck	mucluc, muckluck
mukluk	mumbo-jumbo	mumu	murmur
muumuu	namby-pamby	nana	niminy-piminy
(nitter-natter)	(nitty-gritty)	nitwit	(no-no)
nulla-nulla	okey-doke	(oops-a-daisy)	pall-mall
palsy-walsy	papa	paw-paw	pawpaw
payday	(pee-pee)	peewee	peg leg
pell-mell	picnic	(piggly-wiggly)	Ping-Pong
pip-pip	pishpash	pishposh	pit-a-pat
pitter-patter	(plunk-plonk)	(plunkety-plunk)	(polly-wolly-doodle)
pom-pom	pooh-pooh	(poopoo)	poppycock
(puff-puff)	put-put	putt-putt	(quack-quack)
ragbag	ragtag	(rang-kang)	(rat-a-tat)
razzle-dazzle	razzmatazz	(ribble-rabble)	rickrack
(ricky-tick)	ricrac	riffle-shuffle	riffraff
(riki-tiki)	(ringey-dingey)	rinktum ditty	(rinky-dink)
riprap	roly-poly	rub-a-dub	(rub-a-dub-dub)
rum-dum	rumble-bumble	rumble-tumble	rumblegumption
(sci-fi)	(scrub-a-dub)	(scrub-a-scrub)	seesaw
shilly-shally	shim-sham shimmy	shipshape	silly Billy
singsong	slam-bang	slap-bang	slapdab
slapdash	slaphappy	slipshod	slipslop
(slish-slosh)	snip-snap	snipsnapsnorum	so-so
splish-splash	(splitter-splatter)	superdooper	superduper
(swishy-swashy)	ta-ta	(tak-a-tak)	(tappety-tap)
tappietoorie	tartar	(tch-tch)	tee-hee
teensy-weensy	teeny-weeny	teeter-totter	thriller-diller
tic-tac-toe	ticktack	ticktick	ticktock
(ticky-tacky)	tie-tie	(tika-tika)	tikitiki
ting-a-ling	tip-top	(tish-tosh)	titbit
tittle-tattle	tom-tom	tontine	too-too
tootsy-wootsy	topsy-turvy	toto	(trot-trot)
tsetse	(tsk-tsk)	tum-(ti-)tum	(tush-tush)
tussie-mussie	tut-tut	tutti-frutti	tutu
tuzzy-muzzy	(tweng-tweng)	twit-twat	(twit-twit)
(ubble-gubble)	(uffa-uffa)	uh-huh	(uh-oh)
(uh-uh)	um-hum	voodoo	(wa-wa)
wah-wah	walkie-talkie	(wang wang)	wee-wee
(wham-bam)	whim-wham	whimsy-whamsy	whing-ding
(whip-whap-whip)	whirligig	(whoit-whoit)	whoop-de-doo
(whooper-dooper)	(whurra-whurra)	wiggle-waggle	wiggle-woggle
wigwag	willy-nilly	wingding	wishy-washy
wou-wou	(yackety-yak)	ylang-ylang	yo-ho
(yo-ho-ho)	Yo-Yo	yoo-hoo	yum-yum
zap flap	zero-zero	zigzag	(zit-zit)
Zoot suit	zoozoo	zou-zou	zu-zu
Reduplicated
ack-ack	aye aye	aye-aye	baba
barabara	BB	beebee	beriberi
bibi	bonbon	boo-boo	buddy-buddy
bulbul	by-by, bye-bye	bye-bye	(caca)
cancan	cha-cha(-cha)	chichi	chin-chin
chocho	choochoo	chowchow	cocoa
couscous	cuscus	dig-dig	dik-dik
(dindin)	divi-divi	dodo	(doodoo)
drip-drip	duk-duk	dumdum	fifty-fifty
foo-foo	four-four	froufrou	furfur
gaga	gogo	goo-goo	goody-goody
grugru	gugu	ha-ha	haw-haw
he-he	hee-hee	(heh-heh)	high-high
hiwihiwi	(ho-ho)	housey-housey	hubba-hubba
huhu	humhum	hush-hush	ilang-ilang
jig-jig	juju	juju	kai-kai
kaka	kakkak	kavakava	kawakawa
khuskhus	kiekie	kinnikinnick	klop-klop
(knock-knock)	koko	koko	kuku
kukukuku	kumkum	kuskus	lab-lab
lablab	lap-lap	lapo-lapo	lapu-lapu
lavalava	loa loa	log-log	lolo
low-low	lulu	mahimahi	mama
matamata	(matta-matta)	MauMau	motmot
mumu	murmur	muumuu	nana
(no-no)	nulla-nulla	papa	paw-paw
pawpaw	(pee-pee)	pip-pip	pom-pom
pooh-pooh	(poopoo)	(puff-puff)	put-put
putt-putt	(quack-quack)	so-so	ta-ta
tartar	(tch-tch)	ticktick	tie-tie
(tika-tika)	tikitiki	tom-tom	too-too
toto	(trot-trot)	tsetse	(tsk-tsk)
tum-(ti-)tum	(tush-tush)	tut-tut	tutu
(tweng-tweng)	(twit-twit)	(uffa-uffa)	(uh-uh)
(wa-wa)	wah-wah	(wang wang)	wee-wee
(whoit-whoit)	(whurra-whurra)	wou-wou	ylang-ylang
Yo-Yo	yum-yum	zero-zero	(zit-zit)
zoozoo	zou-zou	zu-zu
Head (consonant) Shift
(antsy-pantsy)	argy-bargy	bigwig	blackjack
(boob-tube)	boogie-woogie	boohoo	bowwow
cagmag	chalk-talk	claptrap	(cring-cling)
deadhead	downtown	even Steven	fat cat
flag bag	Fleet Street	flibberti-gibberty	(flower power)
flubdub	flyby	four-door	frank bank
(fuddle-duddle)	fuddy-duddy	funny-money	fuzzy-guzzy
fuzzy-wuzzy	(Georgy-Porgy)	grandstand	(gruesome twosome)
habnab	handy-andy	handy-dandy	handy-pandy
handy-spandy	hanky-pank	hanky-panky	hari-kari
harum-scarum	heebie-jeebies	heigh-ho	hell's bells
helter-skelter	(Henny-Penny)	heyday	hi-fi
higgledy-piggledy	higglety-pigglety	(highty-flighty)	highty-tighty
hillbilly	(hipper-dipper)	(hipperty-skipperty)	hirdie-girdie
hirdum-dirdum	hobnob	hobo	hobson-jobson
hocus-pocus	hoddy-doddy	hodgepodge	hogan-mogan
hogen-mogen	hoity-toity	hokey-pokey	hokus-pokus
holus-bolus	(holy-moley)	honky-tonk	hoodoo
hoopoo	hootchy-kootchy	hot pot	hot spot
hotchpotch	hotnot	hotshot	hotsy-totsy
house mouse	hubble-bubble	hubbub	(huff-duff)
huff-snuff	huff-snuff	hugger-mugger	hull-gull
humdrum	hummum	humpty-dumpty	humstrum
hurdy-gurdy	hurly-burly	hurrbur	hurry-scurry
hurry-skurry	hustle-bustle	ill will	itsy-bitsy
itty-bitty	jeepers creepers	joukerypawkery	kegmeg
killer-diller	kinchin	kiwi	(kobo)
koodoo	kowtow	kudu, koudou	lardy-dardy
(lead head)	(legal beagle)	(legal eagle)	Lei Day
libidibi	lillypilly	locofoco	lovey-dovey
May Day	(mellow yellow)	miminy-piminy	mucluc, muckluck
mukluk	mumbo-jumbo	namby-pamby	niminy-piminy
(nitty-gritty)	nitwit	okey-doke	pall-mall
palsy-walsy	payday	peewee	peg leg
pell-mell	picnic	(piggly-wiggly)	ragbag
ragtag	(rang-kang)	razzle-dazzle	(riki-tiki)
(ringey-dingey)	(rinky-dink)	roly-poly	rum-dum
rumble-bumble	rumble-tumble	(sci-fi)	silly Billy
superdooper	superduper	tee-hee	teensy-weensy
teeny-weeny	thriller-diller	titbit	tootsy-wootsy
tussie-mussie	tutti-frutti	tuzzy-muzzy	(ubble-gubble)
uh-huh	um-hum	voodoo	walkie-talkie
(wham-bam)	whing-ding	(whooper-dooper)	willy-nilly
wingding	yo-ho	yoo-hoo	zap flap
Zoot suit
Vowel Shift: i-a
chiffchaff	chitchat	click-clack	cling-clang
clink-clank	(clitter-clatter)	cringle-crangle	crinkle-crankle
crinkum-crankum	diddle-daddle	dillydally	fiddle-faddle
flick-flack	flimflam	flip-flap	(frizzle-frazzle)
(gibber-jabber)	jimjams	jinglejangle	jipijapa
jirajara	kit-cat	kit-kat	kittle cattle
(kitty-cat)	knick-knack	Lib-Lab	mishmash
(nitter-natter)	pishpash	pitter-patter	(ribble-rabble)
rickrack	ricrac	riffraff	riprap
shilly-shally	snip-snap	splish-splash	(splitter-splatter)
ticktack	(ticky-tacky)	tittle-tattle	twit-twat
whim-wham	whimsy-whamsy	wiggle-waggle	wigwag
wishy-washy	zigzag
Vowel Shift: i-o
clip-clop	clip-clop	crisscross	dingdong
flip-flop	flipperty-flopperty	(hip-hop)	hippity-hoppity
jig-jog	(King Kong)	Ping-Pong	pishposh
singsong	slipslop	(slish-slosh)	(swishy-swashy)
ticktock	tip-top	(tish-tosh)	wiggle-woggle
Vowel Shift: other
cookie	feery-fary	FIFO	flatfoot
forfar	geegaw	gewgaw	hee-haw
hellhole	hoo-ha	(plunk-plonk)	seesaw
shipshape	teeter-totter	tontine	(uh-oh)
Tripled Form
bric-a-brac	bumpety-bump	chuck(-a)-luck	(chug-a-lug)
clickety-clack	clickety-click	clinkety-clank	clinkety-clink
clippety-clop	ding-a-ling	falderal	fee-faw-fum
fee-fo-fum	flippity-flop	folderol	(hickory-dickory-dock)
(hip-hip-hooray)	hippety-hop	(huff & puff)	jib-o-jib
jig-a-jig	jig-a-jog	jig-joggy	jigjoggy
(knockity-knock)	la-di-dah	lazy daisy stich	muckamuck
pit-a-pat	(plunkety-plunk)	(polly-wolly-doodle)	(rat-a-tat)
razzmatazz	rub-a-dub	(scrub-a-dub)	(scrub-a-scrub)
shim-sham shimmy	(tak-a-tak)	(tappety-tap)	tic-tac-toe
ting-a-ling	(whip-whap-whip)	(yackety-yak)	(yo-ho-ho)
OTHER
artsy-craftsy	bebop	bugaboo	bugbear
crackerjack	eager beaver	fancy pants	fizgig
flapdoodle	flapjack	flibbertigibbet	fluffy-ruffle
fofarraw	foofaraw	foofoorah	fussbudget
gobbledygook	ho-hum	hoi polloi	hoopoe
(hufty-magufty)	hullabaloo	humbug	humdinger
humdudgeon	hunky-dory	(jet set)	jigaboo
jiggery-pokery	jiggumbob	jim-dandy	killickinnic
(kitchy-koo)	lalapalooza	lallygag	lickety-brindle
lickety-cut	lickety-split	linsey-woolsey	lollygag
(oops-a-daisy)	poppycock	(ricky-tick)	riffle-shuffle
rinktum ditty	(rub-a-dub-dub)	rumblegumption	slam-bang
slap-bang	slapdab	slapdash	slaphappy
slipshod	snipsnapsnorum	tappietoorie	topsy-turvy
whirligig	whoop-de-doo