LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Reduplication in Koireng: A Morphological and Semantic Analysis

Lourembam Ludmila Chanu, M.A.

Abstract

This study examines the phenomenon of reduplication in the Koireng language, an endangered Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Koireng tribe of Manipur. Reduplication, as a significant morphological and semantic process, plays a crucial role in expressing plurality, distributiveness, intensification, simultaneity, emotional expression, and contrastive meanings in Koireng. The study investigates both complete and partial reduplication and analyses their structural and functional characteristics within different grammatical categories such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and wh-questions. Complete reduplication is shown to be more productive in Koireng, particularly in conveying distributive and emphatic meanings, while partial reduplication appears in limited forms such as ablaut and rhyme-motivated patterns. The research also explores different lexical manifestations of reduplication, including eco words, reduplicative compounds, child language forms, expressive reduplication, contrastive constructions, and intensive reduplication. The study further situates Koireng reduplication within broader linguistic theories proposed by scholars such as Deborah Tannen, Wang, Ghomeshi, and Rastall, thereby demonstrating the relevance of reduplication not only at the lexical level but also at the discourse and expressive levels. Through descriptive and analytical methods, the paper highlights how reduplication functions as an important linguistic strategy that enriches communication and reflects the cultural and cognitive patterns of the Koireng community. The research contributes to the documentation of the endangered Koireng language and provides insight into the morphological processes of lesser-studied Tibeto-Burman languages of Northeast India.

Keywords:Koireng; Reduplication; Tibeto-Burman Language; Morphology; Linguistic Anthropology

Research Objectives

1. To examine the structural patterns of complete and partial reduplication in the Koireng. 2. To analyse the semantic and grammatical functions of reduplication in different word classes of Koireng. 3. To study the various lexical forms of reduplication such as eco words, compounds, expressive forms, and intensive reduplication in Koireng. 4. To contribute to the linguistic documentation and preservation of the endangered Koireng language.

Methodology

The present study adopts a descriptive and analytical research methodology to investigate reduplication in the Koireng language. Primary linguistic data were collected from native speakers of the Koireng community through informal interviews, participant observation, and oral interactions. Secondary sources such as books, journal articles, census reports, and linguistic studies on Tibeto-Burman languages were also consulted. The collected data were classified into categories of complete and partial reduplication and analysed based on their phonological, morphological, and semantic features. Examples from natural speech were transliterated and interpreted to understand their grammatical and communicative functions within the socio-cultural context of the Koireng community.

Significance of the Study

This study is significant because it documents and analyses reduplication in the Koireng language, one of the endangered languages of Manipur. It highlights the structural and semantic functions of reduplication and demonstrates its importance in expressing plurality, emphasis, intensification, and emotional meanings. The research contributes to the fields of morphology, Tibeto-Burman linguistics, and language preservation by providing valuable data on a lesser-studied tribal language. Furthermore, the study helps preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Koireng community and serves as a useful resource for future researchers interested in indigenous and endangered languages.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Lourembam Ludmila Chanu, M.A.
Ph.D. Research Scholar
Department of Linguistics, Manipur University
ludlou.chanu5@gmail.com
Haobam Marak Lourembam Leikai 795001


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