• Florence Cherotich Biwott

  Author

• Dr. Anashia Nancy Ong’onda

  Author

This paper examines reduplication processes in Kipsigis dialect. Reduplication is a common feature in most of the world’s languages. However since languages belong to different families the morphological process occurs differently. Kipsigis, being a Nilo-Saharan language with its own features of a language, the curent paper sought to investigate the nature of the repetition mechanism in Kipsigis language. This paper applies Morphological Doubling Theory by Inkelas and Zoll (2005, 2007). The study used common Kipsigis words particularly in the open categories of speech. The study focused on morphological reduplication. The study employed descriptive research design. A sample size of 50 participants was used as respondents in the study. Purposive sampling was used to identify the participants. The data was also collected through natural observation, interviews and focus group as the research instruments. The data was analyzed qualitatively. The study found that reduplication is a common feature in Kipsigis dialect. Kipsigis speakers use Kipsigis dialect for various reasons such as iconicity, emphasis,caution and intensification. Thus, this paper attempts to fill the gap in the existing body of knowledge on Kipsigis dialect. The study therefore, makes a contribution in Morphology, and syntax and is necessary for language planning.

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