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Universal 267: reduplication ⇒ it expresses ‘change of quantity or degree’

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 267: reduplication ⇒ it expresses ‘change of quantity or degree’

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.
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
Counterexamples
Tibetan (Tamang, Sino-Tibetan)(Uspensky 1969)

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    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”

    1. May 2020

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