DefinePK

Abstract

Reduplication, a morpho-phonological as well as a morpho-semantic and a morpho-syntactic process, is acommon linguistic phenomenon found in many languages across the globe. However, the nature and the degree of productivity with regard to reduplication vary from one language to another. The aim of this qualitative corpus-based synchronic study is to explore the nature and function of reduplication in Punjabi, which belongs to the Indo-Aryan group within the Indo-European language family. The data for the study are based on 150 examples of reduplication in Punjabi and these reduplicated items have been collected from the discourse of Punjabi native speakers in a variety of domains. The data analysis proves that Punjabi is a highly productive language with regard to reduplication as the language reveals a number of different patterns ranging from partial to total reduplication, with different functions. Apart from the existence of different categories of reduplicants with distinct functions, like, reinforcement, emphasis, intensification, continuation, attribution, and attitudinal projection, Punjabi language displays nominal, verbal, adjectival, as well as adverbial reduplication. The study is not only an attempt to make significant contribution in research on Punjabi morphology by adding to the available corpus-based research on the language, but also an endeavour to pave the path for researchers interested in working on the morphology of other indigenouslanguages of Pakistan.