59.2. ‘Characteristic,’ ‘inceptive,’ and ‘affective’
Models
| 1) | MED | ‘bend’ | MEDMED | ‘flexible’ |
| 2) | NÁJ | ‘different’ | NÁJNEJ | ‘variety, assortment’ |
| 3) | ḰÁL | ‘talk’ | ḰÁL¸ḰEL¸ | ‘talkative’ |
| 4) | ĆȺ | ‘work’ | ĆȺĆI | ‘diligent, busy’ |
| 5) | JIN¸U¸ | ‘being annoyed’ | JEN¸JIN¸U¸ | ‘grumpy’ |
| 6) | PW̱ITEṈ | ‘be shaken out’ | PPW̱ITEṈ | ‘start to be shaken out’ |
| 7) | ȻELEṈ | ‘fly’ | ȻE¸ȻELEṈ | ‘starting to fly’ |
| 8) | ṈENE¸ | ‘son/daughter’ | ṈIṈENE¸ | ‘cute son/daughter’ |
| 9) | ḴȺYEX | ‘liar’ | ḴIḴEYEX | ‘name for Mink’ |
‣ 1 Of the three reduplication patterns shown in these models, the pattern shown in models 1, 2, 3, and 4 is the most common. This is the ‘characteristic’ pattern.
‣ 2 The ‘characteristic’ is formed by copying the first two consonants and stressed vowel of the root. Stress falls on the leftmost copy. The vowel in the rightmost copy becomes E. Schematically (C1 is the first consonant, C2 is the second and V is the stressed vowel): C1VC2 → C1VC2C1EC2. So, in model 1 we have:
M E D → M E D M E D
C1 V C2 → C1 V C2 C1 E C2
‣ 3 The meaning of the ‘characteristic’ pattern is ‘characteristic of’ or ‘typically’ or ‘characterized by.’ In model 1 for example, something that is ‘characterized by bending’ or ‘typically bends is flexible. In model 2, something that characteristic of ‘different’ is a ‘variety’ or ‘assortment’ of different things. The ‘characteristic’ meanings of models 3, 4, and 5, should be easy to see now.
‣ 4 The reduplication pattern in model 4 is easier to see if we look at it phonetically. The symbol Ⱥ represents the /ey/ diphthong. Review point 3 in Notes on Pronunciation. So ĆȺ is phonetically /čéy/ and ĆȺĆI is /čéyči/, which comes from /čéyčəy/. The /ə/ drops and the /y/ becomes /i/, as described in point 10 of Notes on Pronunciation. So you can see that the pattern in model 4 is the fundamentally the same as that in models 1, 2, and 3.
‣ 5 The pattern is somewhat different in model 5. Notice that it is not the first vowel in JEN¸JIN¸U¸ that has the stress. This happens when there is a second vowel in the word after the original stressed vowel. Here JIN¸U¸ has a stressed I and also a second vowel in U¸.
‣ 6 There are some words that have the characteristic reduplication pattern, but have no noncharacteristic form. The following lists some examples. Most of these words do all refer to qualities, but for some, the ‘characteristic’ idea is obscure. The meaning of the stem they are based on has been lost over time:
ḴI¸ḴE¸ ‘soft, tender’
SȺ¸SI¸ ‘get scared’
DOM¸DEM¸ ‘suspicious’
ṈÁL¸ṈEL¸ ‘bait’
WEL¸WEL¸ ‘tippy, unstable’
XI¸XE¸ ‘embarrassed’
‣ 7 Models 6 and 7 illustrate the ‘inceptive’ reduplication pattern. This reduplication adds the meaning of ‘just starting to’ or ‘beginning to.’ This meaning can be seen clearly in the two models.
‣ 8 In model 6, PW̱ITEṈ refers to shaking ripe fruit or berries out of a bush or tree. Adding a copy of the first consonant of the root makes a word that means ‘just starting to be shaken out.’
‣ 9 The ‘inceptive’ pattern is not common. Although it is understood by all L1 speakers, it was used regularly only by the oldest speakers of SENĆOŦEN. The pattern involves copying the first consonant of the root, but there seem to be varying modifications to that. Model 7 shows one variation where E¸ follows the copied consonant. Not many examples of the ‘inceptive’ reduplication have been recorded.
‣ 10 Models 8 and 9 show the ‘affective’ reduplication pattern. This reduplication adds a meaning of affection to the word. This pattern is used for something felt to be cute, tricky, or amusing.
‣ 11 The ‘affective’ pattern is formed by copying the first consonant of the root an following it with a stressed I, as shown in models 8 and 9.
‣ 12 Model 8 shows the meaning clearly. ṈIṈENE¸ is used to refer to a child that one is feeling especially kindly toward. This is used somewhat the way English speakers use ‘kiddy.’ This show affection, but it cannot be used with any of the possessives. Something like *NE ṈIṈENE¸ is not acceptable.
‣ 13 Traditional stories featuring the trickster character Mink are always good for a laugh. Mink is a lovable but tricky character, who has a habit of telling fibs. The common nickname for Mink in the stories uses the ‘affective’ reduplication pattern ḴIḴEYEX based on the word for liar. This is a typical use of this reduplication pattern.
 | EWE S ÁN¸ U¸ ĆȺĆI TŦÁ¸E SWÍḴE¸. | ‘That man is not very diligent.’ |
 | HÁE. JÁN¸ U¸ SÁW̱SEW̱. | ‘Yes. He’s very lazy.’ |
| JJIN¸U¸ SEN ¸E TŦU¸NIȽ. | ‘I’m starting to get annoyed with him.’ |
| ÁN¸ SW̱ U¸ JEN¸JIN¸U¸. | ‘You’re very grumpy.’ |
59.2A. Use the SENĆOŦEN dictionary to look up these words. For each word explain the reduplication pattern and how the meaning fits the pattern: 1. XÁ¸XE¸ 2. ḰO¸ḰE¸ 3. TETÁṈ¸EN¸ 4. KIKENEḴ 59.2B. Write four original sentences in SENĆOŦEN using the those four words you looked up in the dictionary. |