M-reduplication in Bulgarian Speech

Authors:

Pages: 38-83
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/CBKS1387

Abstract:

Reduplication constructions expressing multiplicity and intensity are used in Bulgarian such as бавно-бавно, рано-рано, на вълни на вълни. The reduplicated words function as various parts of speech – adverbs, adjectives, nouns, numerals, verbs. Such wordformation patterns can be found in a number of languages, including the Balkan languages. According to some researchers, the Turkish language has played a major role in making that phenomenon widespread in Bulgarian and the rest of the Balkan languages. Total reduplication is a word-formation pattern that is widespread in the Turkic languages, including Turkish. Alongside such reduplication constructions, partial reduplication is also used in Bulgarian speech, mainly with plural nouns, where the reduplicated word starts with the m vowel, e.g. кебапчета-мебапчета, бири-мири, компютри- момпютри, дънки-мънки, кръвно-мръвно. We have labelled such constructions m-reduplication. The study presents preliminary observations on that interesting phenomenon in the Bulgarian language, which so far has not been explored in detail.

Keywords:

total reduplication, partial reduplication, m-reduplication (echo-word formation), areal diffusion

Download

NA