Reduplication

Abstract

AbstractReduplication is a cross‐linguistically frequent morphological phenomenon. Despite robust morphosyntactic and phonological tendencies across reduplicative systems, an exploration of reduplicative morphology indicates its potential functions are as broad and varied as the functions of any other non‐reduplicative affix, and its phonological manifestation is often nuanced and complex. This entry provides an overview the morphological properties of reduplication and how it interacts with phonology and syntax. In this entry a descriptive overview of the phenomenon is presented, highlighting its definitive properties; a summary of reduplicative morphology is also provided, demonstrating the full range of potential function encodable with reduplication. This leads to a thorough description of a number of compelling interactions between reduplicative morphology and phonology. The entry concludes with a broad review of typological and theoretical perspectives on reduplication.