A comparative survey of reduplication in Australian languages

Abstract

This thesis is a cross-linguistic study of reduplicative constructions found in a sample of 120 Australian languages. The study is based on an examination of reduplications in various languages, and a comparison of these particular constructions with aspects of the structure of the language in question. In this way, the role of reduplication in grammar may be clarified. This is especially relevant to Australian languages since reduplication is largely used to express 'grammatical' rather than 'lexical' meaning. Chapter one provides an introduction to the aims and methods of the thesis. Chapter two discusses the phonological structure of reduplication in Australian languages by examining reduplication together with such phonological parameters as phonological word boundaries and stress patterns. Chapter three characterises nominal reduplications and sets out to show that reduplication of 'nouns' and 'adjectives' can be distinguished on a semantic or conceptual basis, although formal grammatical differences between the two classes may rarely be evident in Australian languages. Chapter four examines the variety of meanings which verbal reduplication may have, and shows a correlation between the types of meanings found and the role of reduplication in marking differences in verbal semantics in any one language. Finally, the thesis ends with a summary of the findings in chapters two, three and four, some conclusions, and suggestions for further areas of study relevant to the current topic. Show more