Nova Zhang
The repetition of words or sounds is a common feature of language, and it can serve various purposes such as emphasizing a point, creating rhythm, or even as a tool for learning and treating phobias. This phenomenon is known as semantic satiation, a term coined by Leon Jakobovits James in 1962 to describe how repeated exposure to a word or phrase can cause it to temporarily lose meaning for the listener. In poetry and literature, the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words is called alliteration, while the repetition of vowel sounds is known as assonance. A specific type of repetition called reduplication is commonly observed in baby talk, where words like mama and papa are formed through the repetition of syllables. This repetition of words or sounds has been studied across various languages and has been found to serve different purposes and hold different meanings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Linguistic feature | Reduplication or ablaut reduplication |
| Example | mama, papa, dada, choo-choo train |
| Baby talk | Exact reduplication, canonical or reduplicative babbling |
| Literary device | Assonance, consonance, alliteration |
| Alliteration | Repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words |
| Assonance | Repetition of vowel sounds |
| Consonance | Repetition of consonant sounds at any point in a word |
| Psychological phenomenon | Semantic satiation |
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What You'll Learn
Reduplication
There are different types of reduplication. Full reduplication involves the repetition of an entire word or morpheme. For example, in the language of the Pingelapese people, the word for "dispositional" is formed through total reduplication. Partial reduplication, on the other hand, involves repeating only a part of the word, often a syllable. An example of this is the Papiá Kristang word "kren-krensa", which means "children". Another variation is ablaut reduplication, where a vowel is changed, as in the words "teeny tiny", "shilly shally", and "dilly dally".
In summary, reduplication is a linguistic pattern involving the repetition of words or parts of words, which serves various grammatical and expressive functions. It is a common feature of many languages, including pidgin and creole languages, and can involve the exact repetition or modification of the repeated segment.
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Assonance
The use of assonance can elevate writing by creating a sense of rhythm, emphasising certain phrases, and setting the mood. It appeals to our natural love of sound and rhythm, making phrases smoother and more pleasing to the ear. For instance, the repetition of the long "oo" sound in "moon" can impart a sense of calm, while the short "i" sound in "kit" can create tension.
Overall, assonance is a powerful tool for writers to create rhythm, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impression on their readers or listeners. It is a subtle yet impactful way to enhance the beauty and impact of written and spoken language.
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Alliteration
In some cases, alliteration can involve the use of different but similar consonants, such as the alliteration between "z" and "s" in Middle English poems. Additionally, the repetition of consonant sounds at any point in a word is called "consonance." Alliteration can be considered a special case of consonance when the repeated consonant sound opens a stressed syllable.
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Semantic satiation
Several experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the semantic satiation effect in various cognitive tasks. These include rating words and figures presented repeatedly in a short time, verbally repeating words and then grouping them into concepts, adding numbers after repeating them out loud, and bilingual translations of words repeated in one language. These experiments have shown that repeating a word before using it in a task makes the task more difficult.
In everyday life, semantic satiation can occur when certain words are overused, causing them to lose their intensity or power. This can be observed in children asking for a cookie repeatedly or in marketing campaigns that inadvertently trigger semantic satiation in customers through repetitive branding or industry jargon. While it can be frustrating, one suggestion to counteract the effect is to shift focus away from the word in question.
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Baby talk
The use of baby talk is not limited to interactions between adults and infants; it may also be used among adults or by people towards animals. In these cases, the language style may resemble baby talk, but it is not considered true "parentese" as it serves a different linguistic function. Baby talk can be used as a form of verbal abuse, intending to infantilise the victim, or as a form of flirtation and intimate expression between romantic partners.
Babies learn to speak by imitating the sounds they hear, so talking to infants in baby talk can help them acquire speech and language skills faster. Studies have shown that infants prefer to listen to CDS and pay more attention to it than regular adult speech. Researchers believe that CDS plays a crucial role in the emotional bonding process between parents and their children. It helps infants learn the basic function and structure of language, as well as the bidirectional nature of speech and the importance of verbal feedback.
When infants begin to vocalise beyond crying, they imitate the prosody of the language around them with vowel sounds. As they get older, they combine a limited set of consonants with vowel sounds, creating babbling. This repetition is called canonical or reduplicative babbling, which is then imitated in baby talk or CDS. Reduplication refers to the repetition of syllables, such as "mama" or "papa". Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, and consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds, are also linguistic techniques employed in baby talk.
To effectively engage in baby talk with an infant, it is recommended to make eye contact, smile often, and respond to their vocalisations and nonverbal communication. Talking to babies throughout the day, narrating daily activities, and integrating normal adult speech alongside baby talk can benefit their language development.
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Frequently asked questions
The repetition of words is known as 'reduplication'. This is a distinctive linguistic feature, often seen in baby talk, where a single CV syllable is repeated, such as "papa", "mama", or "bye-bye".
Yes and no. While the repetition of words does create a sound, it is the combination of specific consonants and vowels that form a distinct sound. The repetition of words can be seen as a form of sound creation through language.
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighbouring words or syllables, such as "wild and woolly". Consonance, a broader literary device, involves the repetition of consonant sounds anywhere in a word, for example, "coming home".
Semantic satiation is a psychological phenomenon where the repetition of a word or phrase causes it to temporarily lose meaning for the listener, who then perceives it as repeated meaningless sounds. This effect can also be achieved through extended inspection or analysis of a word or phrase.
