Universal #268

Legacy number: 268

 Number  267
 Original  If in a language reduplication (full or partial) exists as a productive grammatical means of word- and formbuilding, then, included in the meanings expressed by means of reduplication, we find the meaning “change of quantity or degree”.
 Standardized  IF any other meanings are expresssed by productive reduplication, THEN the meaning ‘change of degree or quantity’ is also expressed thus.
 Formula  reduplication ⇒ it expresses ‘change of quantity or degree’
 Keywords  reduplication
 Domain  morphology, semantics
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  unspecified
 Source  Uspensky 1968: 15 [Uspensky 1972: 69]; Vardul’ 1969, referring to Uspensky

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Tibetan (Tamang, Sino-Tibetan)(Uspensky 1969)
Notes
not genuinely if-then; rather:Provided there is reduplication...But possibly:IF productive reduplication expresses meaning “x”, THEN it also expresses “change of degree or quantity”
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
not genuinely if-then; rather:
Provided there is reduplication...
But possibly:
IF productive reduplication expresses meaning "x', THEN it also expresses "change of degree or quantity"