REDUPLICATION IN ENGLISH STYLISTIC WORD FORMATION
Reduplication in English stylistic word formation

Summary/Abstract: Reduplication as a means of word formation causes a great deal of controversy in terms of describing its properties and types in English as well as in other languages. The process of doubling a lexeme is viewed from different angles in Modern English. Despite the long history of studying the phenomenon of reduplication, linguists have not come to a unanimous opinion regarding the definition, essence and status of reduplication in the language system. So, in linguistics there are various terms, points of view and approaches to this phenomenon. Reduplication is viewed as a means of stylistic word formation. Stylistic reduplication is described as a process of coining a new reduplicative for a specific occasion, in a certain context. Many reduplicative neologisms are created by authors to express some new meaning; they are used just once and are not included into dictionaries. They are called authors’ neologisms. These newly coined words are unique, individual creations; they become a powerful means of making expressive word forms. They serve to add connotations, execute the expressive, emotional and aesthetic functions of the word. Structurally the following types of reduplication are overviewed: contrastive, exact, rhyming, and shm-reduplication. Reduplication in children’s speech and in advertising is also discussed.

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