Exploring Reduplications in Balochi Language in the Perspective of Doubling Theory

Abstract

Reduplication is a linguistic phenomenon which is found in a number of languages in the world. It is a morpho-syntactic, morph-semantic and morph-phonological process. Whereas, the degree and usage of reduplication is different from language to language. The objective of the study is to find out the types of reduplication in Balochi language spoken in district Rahim Yar khan, Rajen Pur and in some districts of Sindh province. There are 33 examples of different types of reduplication in Balochi language which have been collected from the conversation of Balochi native speakers from informal settings. The analysis of the data shows that the Balochi language is rich and productive in terms of reduplication as it contains various types of patterns ranging from total to partial reduplication which serves variety and different functions. It has been explored that different types of reduplication in Balochi language serve different functions such as intensification, emphasis and reinforcement. Balochi language shows total reduplication of Verbs and Adjectives whereas partial or rhyming reduplication have nouns. In this study, the researcher tried to make an important and significant contribution on Balochi morphology. It is also an effort which paves the way for the researchers to explore and research on more and different types of reduplication in indigenous languages spoken in different regions of Pakistan.