If by means of reduplication a decrease of quantity or degree may be expressed in a language, there are cases in that language in which reduplication expresses an increase of quantity or degree.
Standardized
IF a decrease of quantity or degree can be expressed by means of reduplication, THEN an increase of quantity or degree can also be expressed by reduplication.
In other words, it is assumed that there exists no language in which reduplication would express exclusively a DEcrease of quantity or degree – i.e., that reduplication is primarily augmentative rather than diminutive.
In other words, it is assumed that there exists no language in which reduplication would express exclusively a DEcrease of quantity or degree – i.e., that reduplication is primarily augmentative rather than diminutive.