Reduplication
By Iem Brown
Reduplication is a process of repeating a word, either wholly or partially. This process is very productive and it shows a number of characteristics. It is used to express various grammatical functions such as verbal aspect and some showing complex models.
A wide use of reduplication is one of the most prominent grammatical features of the Indonesian and Malay languages, as well as other Austronesian languages. To some this sounds like a child language (hula-hula, caca).
Forms of Reduplication
| Full Reduplication | |
| Meaning | |
| tiba-tiba | suddenly |
| pura-pura | to pretend |
| laki-laki | male |
| kupu-kupu | butterfly |
| Partial Reduplication | |
| Meaning | |
| sesama | peer, fellow |
| tetangga | neighbour |
| tetamu | guests |
| lelaki | male |
| Reduplication With Sound Change | |
| Meaning | |
| warna-warni | colorful |
| desas-desus | rumor |
| gerak-gerik | movement |
| lenggak-lenggok | a swaying movement |
| lagak-lagu | ostentation |
| seluk-beluk | intricacies |
| sayur-mayur | vegetables |
| pontang-panting | pellmell |
| mundar-mandir | move back and forth |
| teka-teki | crossword |
| bolak-balik | to and fro |
| serba-serbi | sundry |
| Reduplication With Affixes | |
| Meaning | |
| melihat-lihat | look about, browse |
| tergila-gila | crazy about |
| berjalan-jalan | take a stroll |
| berlari-larian | running |
| berlapis-lapis | in layers |
| kekuning-kuningan | golden |
| bantu-membantu | help each other |
| secepat-cepatnya | as fast as possible |
| buah-buahan | fruits |
| tarik-menarik | trade-offs |
| anyan-anyaman | plaited materials |
| berputar-putar | circulating |
Meaning of Reduplication
Reduplication of Nouns and Pronouns
Reduplication of Nouns & pronouns most commonly shows individuality as opposed to unity. It has 4(four) meanings:
- To indicate plurality
Duplication to indicate plural is used only to clarify, meaning of variety of things: eg. Saya belajar bahasa asing seperti Inggris, Perancis dan Arab; Saya belajar bahasa-bahasa asing seperti Inggris etc (=variety of foreign languages). Plural of variety/diversity: buku-buku, pohon-pohonan, sayur-mayur, tetamu, gerigi, warna-warni (note: duplication is the last resort to be used to indicate plurality) - To indicate similarity
mobil-mobilan; langit-langit (=ceiling); anak-anakan (=doll); rumah-rumahan; jari-jari (=radius, spokes of wheel); ketapak-ketepuk; cing-cong; tulat-tulit (=imitating sound); kuda-kuda (=easel tripod); kuda-kudaan (=toy horse); kucing-kucingan (=play tag); Anak-anak (Saya bukan anak-anak lagi); Sifatnya masih kekanak-kanakan (=childish); Dia berjalan seperti ibu-ibu; gula-gula (=lolly); Kasian, dia menjadi bulan-bulanan (=target) di sekolah; Dia jalannya seperti ibu-ibu; Ada seorang kakek-kakek datang tadi pagi. - Reduplication of pronouns for emphasis and give a negative overtone:
Kalau ada apa-apa, mengapa saya-sayalah yang bersalah?
Kita-kita juga yang harus bertanggung jawab.
Kami-kami ini kan orang biasa (= meremehkan).
Siapa-siapa yang bisa datang nanti malam? = Siapa saja yang bisa datang… - Names of animals/plants/food etc, these always appear in duplication:
kupu-kupu, laba-laba , kura-kura, anai-anai, biri-biri, paru-paru, alang-alang, agar-agar,, ani-ani, oleh-oleh, gado-gado, gara-gara, cuma-cuma (=gratis), kolang-kaling.
Reduplication of Adjectives
Reduplication of Adjectives explains intensity or degree of intensity, it is also used to form adverbs:
- Kecil-kecil sudah belajar mencuri.
- Barang di toko itu mahal-mahal.
- Semahal-mahalnya barang itu dia masih mau membelinya (=however expensive).
- Dialah teman saya yang sebaik-baiknya (=the kindest friend).
- Jangan berkata yang tidak-tidak (=nonsense)
- minta-minta (=to beg)
- Dia sudah pergi diam-diam (=secretly/quietly)
- Jangan sekali-kali kau berani berbuat begity lagi. (=don’t ever)
- Baiklah, saya akan coba sebisa-bisanya (=as far as I can)
But some duplication of adjectives also softens the meaning:
sehat-sehat, baik-baik, sakit-sakitan (=sickly), kemerah-merahan (reddish), kekuning-kuningan, Kakak saya orangnya gemuk-gemuk (=agak gemuk), Begitu-begitulah (= soften the meaning: so so).
Reduplication of Verbs
A variety of meanings ranging from continuity of action or relaxation, and repetition, intensity or randomness and reciprocity:
| Meaning | |
| Makan-makan | feast |
| berpindah-pindah | moves about |
| tidur-tiduran | lying down |
| bersalam-salaman | shake each other hand |
| Dibesar-besarkan | exaggerated |
| Antar-mengantar | send something to each other |
| Tolong-menolong | helping each other |
| Ketap-ketip | blinking of eyes repeatedly |
| Berganti-ganti | by turns, keep on changing, take turns(reciprocal) |
| Begitu-begitulah | soften the meaning=so so |
| tergila-gila | crazy about |
| Habis-habisan | completely |
| Tak habis-habisnya | endlessly |
| Untung-untungan | undertake s.t. hoping for the best(optative) |
| Satu-per-satu | one by one, by piece |
| sehari-hari | knock about, routine, daily(intensive) |
| Membaca-baca (tanpa tujuan yang sebenarnya) | read repeatedly, pronounce, recite |
| kumpul-kumpul | gatherings |
Reduplication as a means of forming Adverbs
| Meaning | |
| Siang-siang | early |
| Baik-baik | properly |
| Diam-diam | quietly or in secret |
| Kira-kira | approximately, perhaps |
| tiba-tiba/sekonyong-konyong | nearly |
| hampir-hampir | send something to each other |
| Jangan-jangan | let us hope not |
| Apakah betul-betul sudah kau pikirkan masak-masak? | Have you thought about it carefully? |
| Ambil nafas dalam-dalam | take a deep breath |
| sendiri-sendiri | individually or on your own |
| Kita perlu sekurang-kurangnya 4 orang untuk mengangkat meja ini. | We need at least 4 people to lift this table |
Reduplication that forms new meanings
| Meaning | |
| Jadi-jadian | supernatural creature |
| Tumbuh-tumbuhan | plants |
| Compang-camping | ragged |
| Kolang-kaling | a kind of coconut fruit |
| Cuma-Cuma | gratis |
| Cikal-bakal or cakal-bakal | pioneer or founders or ancestors |
| Kucar-kacir | messy |
| Ketar-ketir | apprehensive |
| Tahu-tahu | suddenly |
| Ramai-ramai | in a group |
| Omong-omong | by the way |
| hati-hati | be careful |
Reduplication of numerals
Mereka berjalan berdua-dua (= They are walking in two’s)
