Reduplicating nouns and verbs in Malay

by Jyh Wee Sew

This book examines the noun and verb reduplication found in newspapers, magazine and radio broadcast. It is noticed that Malay nouns reduplicate more readily than Malay verbs. The differences between Malay nouns and verbs are explained in separate chapters based on the tenets of Cognitive Grammar and other grammar axioms. The semantics of Malay nouns and verbs are explained in terms of quantification expressed through a perceived boundary, either coerced or supressed through the application of different grammar words and affixation in Malay. Reduplicating Malay nouns and verbs becomes complex at phrasal level because the specificity of the noun references and the aspect of the verb references are complicated by the collaborating grammar elements such as determiner, number, existential marker, irrealis construct, etc. The discussion paves the way to more detailed analyses of Malay nouns and verbs by taking into consideration the pragmatic effects that alter the semantics of reduplicated