Apophony - English Ablaut-motivated Compounding

English Ablaut-motivated Compounding

See also: Reduplication#English

Ablaut reduplication or ablaut-motivated compounding is a type of word formation of "expressives" in English (such as onomatopoeia or ideophones). Examples of these include:

  • tick-tock
  • criss-cross
  • cling-clang
  • snip-snap

Here the words are formed by a reduplication of a base and an alternation of the internal vowel.

Some examples in Japanese:

  • kasa-koso (rustle)
  • gata-goto (rattle)

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