The Art of Repetition: A Deep Dive into Punjabi Reduplication

Abstract

T his study explores the phenomenon of reduplication in Punjabi through a morphological lens, focusing on its types, structures, and semantic functions. Data were collected from native speakers in the two speech communities of Narowal (Punjab) and Karachi (Sindh) primarily in the natural, conversational setting, including home domain interactions among family members. The report also included examples from the Punjabi lexicon, describing how the words were used. Using purposive sampling, 20 examples of Punjabi reduplications were studied. The findings categorize Punjabi reduplication into four types: full reduplication, and partial reduplication (twice), and ablaut reduplication, opposite reduplication. These forms serve various semantic functions, including intensification, plurality, habituality, repetition/continuity, and expressing degrees of action. The study highlights the richness and productivity of Punjabi reduplication, offering new insights into its morphological structures and semantic nuances. This research adds to the knowledge of reduplication in Indo-Aryan languages and recommends similar studies of indigenous linguistic phenomena.

Keywords: Reduplication, Punjabi language, Total Reduplication, Partial Reduplication, Doubling Theory