Semantic Dimensions of Reduplication, A Case Study in Kashmiri Language

This study explores reduplication in the Kashmiri language and its associated semantic dimensions, focusing on the patterns and functions of this phenomenon. Reduplication involves duplicating roots, stems, bases, or lexemes to create new words. It is a qualitative analysis, employing descriptive methods. The study adopts the Morphological Doubling Theory (MDT) proposed by Inkelas and Zoll (2005), which portrays reduplication as a process where morpho-semantic elements are duplicated to generate words with altered semantic effects. The findings reveal that reduplication is a prevalent process in Kashmiri, producing compounds that are either fully or partially reiterated. This process occurs across various word categories such as nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, aiming to intensify or diminish semantic meanings. Moreover, the study illustrates that reduplication in Kashmiri induces semantic shifts while maintaining grammatical consistency within word categories.