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 languages. To some this sounds like a child language (hula-hula, caca).
Reduplication With Affixes
Some words are reduplicated with affixes. Most of reduplication with affixes is verbs and adjectives. Reduplication of nouns with affixes is limited to the suffix -an.
ber-
| Dia berjalan-jalan ke pasar. Gedung itu bertingkat-tingkat. |
He takes a stroll to the market. The building has many storeys. |
me-
| Kalau mandi saya suka menyanyi-nyanyi. Dia meraba-raba dalam gelap. |
While bathing, I like to sing. He is groping in the dark. |
The other type of reduplication with prefix me- is usually a verb but maybe a nominal:
| Mereka saling pandang memandang. Kita harus saling tolong-menolong. Dia sangat ahli dalam tari-menari. |
They looked at each other. We have to help each other. She is an expert on dancing. |
ter-
| Mereka tertawa-tawa mendengar berita gebira itu. Pria itu tergila-gila pada wanita berkulit putih. |
They laughed and laughed upon hearing the good news. That man is crazy about the woman with fair skin. |
ber- -an
| Murid-murid sedang berkejar-kejaran di halaman sekolah. Kami bersalam-salaman sebelum berpisah. |
The pupils are chasing each other in the school yard. We shake each other’s hand before we parted. |
ke- -an
| Usianya sudah dua puluh tapi masih kekanak-kanakan. Airnya jernih kebiru-biruan. |
He is twenty years old but he is still childish. The water is clear, slightly blue. |
se-
| Sekonyong-konyong di memukul saya. Saya akan berusaha sebaik-baiknya. |
All of sudden he hits me. I will try my best. |
-an
| sayur-sayuran mobil-mobilan cubit-cubitan kucing-kucingan |
variety of vegetables toy cars pinching each other hide and seek |
Reference: Indonesian Grammar Made Easy by Dr. Liaw Yock Fang, TIMES 1996
