What is Chinese reduplication and how does it function in the language?
Chinese reduplication involves repeating a word or part of a word to convey different grammatical or semantic meanings. It can indicate emphasis, diminutiveness, intensification, or repetition. In verbs, reduplication often softens the action, while in adjectives, it typically intensifies the quality described.
Does Chinese reduplication occur in both nouns and verbs?
Yes, Chinese reduplication occurs in both nouns and verbs. It is a common linguistic phenomenon used for various purposes such as emphasis, diminutives, or to convey a more casual tone.
What are some examples of Chinese reduplication in everyday speech?
Examples of Chinese reduplication in everyday speech include "看看" (look), "吃吃" (eat), and "走走" (walk). These reduplicated forms often convey a casual or relaxed action. Another example is "天天" (every day), indicating repetition or continuity.
What are the different types of Chinese reduplication?
There are three main types of Chinese reduplication: AAB (e.g., 睡觉觉 shuìjiàojiao - "sleep"), ABAB (e.g., 学习学习 xuéxí xuéxí - "study a bit"), and AA (e.g., 妈妈 māma - "mum"). These forms can express emphasis, repetition, or dimunition in meaning.
How does Chinese reduplication affect the tone and meaning of words?
Chinese reduplication often creates a more casual, emphatic, or diminutive sense. It can also affect tone: full reduplication usually preserves the original tones, while certain partial reduplications may induce tone sandhi, modifying the tones for ease of pronunciation.