Reduplicated Adjective Forms in the Yongdeng Dialect of Lanzhou

Yangyang Zong

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.25734

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

Reduplicated Adjective Forms in the Yongdeng Dialect of Lanzhou

Research Article

Open Access

Reduplicated Adjective Forms in the Yongdeng Dialect of Lanzhou

Yangyang Zong ^1*

¹ Xiangtan University

^*Corresponding author: 2931489508@qq.com

Published on 6 August 2025

CHR Vol.73

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-267-6

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-268-3

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Abstract

Reduplication, as one of the morphological construction methods in Modern Chinese, serves as a crucial grammatical device. The Yongdeng dialect, part of the Lanzhou sub-group of the Central Plains Mandarin (Lanyin Mandarin), exhibits a rich array of reduplicated adjective forms. This paper investigates the reduplication of adjectives in the Yongdeng dialect from three perspectives: structural patterns, grammatical meanings, and pragmatic functions. Based on whether the reduplication is complete or partial, six main types are identified and discussed: “AA,” “AABB,” “ABAB,” “ABB,” “AACD,” and “ABCC.” The study analyzes their grammatical roles in expressing degree and state, and explores how these reduplicated forms enhance vividness and imagery in pragmatic usage.

Keywords:

Yongdeng Dialect, Adjective Reduplication, Grammatical Meaning, Pragmatic Function

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References

[1]. Bai, D. (2000). A brief discussion on what kinds of verbs can be reduplicated. Language and Translation, (02), 14–16.

[2]. Huang, B. R., & Liao, X. D. (2017). Modern Chinese (Reprinted December 2019). Beijing: Higher Education Press.

[3]. Zhang, W. X., & Mo, C. (2009). Dictionary of Lanzhou Dialect. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press.

[4]. Lü, S. X. (1980). Eight Hundred Words in Modern Chinese (p. 716). Beijing: The Commercial Press.

[5]. Li, Y. M. (1996). On the meaning of word reduplication. World Chinese Teaching, (01), 11–12.

[6]. Zhu, D. X. (1956). A study of adjectives in modern Chinese. Language Research, (01), 1–37.

[7]. Liu, D. Q. (1986). A study of reduplication in Suzhou dialect. Language Research, (01), 7–28.

References

[1]. Bai, D. (2000). A brief discussion on what kinds of verbs can be reduplicated. Language and Translation, (02), 14–16.

[2]. Huang, B. R., & Liao, X. D. (2017). Modern Chinese (Reprinted December 2019). Beijing: Higher Education Press.

[3]. Zhang, W. X., & Mo, C. (2009). Dictionary of Lanzhou Dialect. Beijing: China Social Sciences Press.

[4]. Lü, S. X. (1980). Eight Hundred Words in Modern Chinese (p. 716). Beijing: The Commercial Press.

[5]. Li, Y. M. (1996). On the meaning of word reduplication. World Chinese Teaching, (01), 11–12.

[6]. Zhu, D. X. (1956). A study of adjectives in modern Chinese. Language Research, (01), 1–37.

[7]. Liu, D. Q. (1986). A study of reduplication in Suzhou dialect. Language Research, (01), 7–28.

Cite this article

Zong,Y. (2025). Reduplicated Adjective Forms in the Yongdeng Dialect of Lanzhou. Communications in Humanities Research,73,20-29.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Art, Design and Social Sciences

ISBN: 978-1-80590-267-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-268-3(Online)

Editor: Yanhua Qin

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/

Conference date: 20 October 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.73

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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