Reduplication initiated through discourse markers: a case of hadoti

Abstract

Reduplication is a common morphological process in many languages, particularly in South Asia. This study focuses on the reduplication phenomenon in Hadoti, where it ensues with the help of a discourse marker /rə/, functioning as an emphasizing agent in the process. This marker comes between the base and the reduplicant for expressing emphasis in work or action or verb (as in /kʰa rə kʰa/ ‘do eat,’ etc.). In Hadoti, /rə/ functions as a vocative case marker when it comes at the end of the sentence as in /ram ɡjo rə/ ‘Ram went’. However, when /rə/ occurs in between the base and the reduplicant, the stress shifts on the latter from the base. Phenomena of reduplication with a specific focus on the use of /rə/ are discussed in the current study using the constraints like *CLASH, and STRESS-TO-RED, etc. This particular phenomenon is predominantly present in the case of verbs in Hadoti, which is a unique feature of this variety of Hindi.