Reinforcement by Repetition in English and Arabic

Section: Research Paper
Published
Jun 24, 2025
Pages
23-46

Abstract

Reinforcement is defined as a linguistic feature whereby some item is reitrated for purposes of emphasis, thematic arrangement, or focus. The simplest form of this feature is the repetition of a word or a phrase for emphasis or clarity (Quirk et al., 1972: 970). In fact, repetition is an outstanding structural feature which is common to all languages of the world (Anees, 1970: 14-15). Although it is disapproved in essays and elsewhere and looked upon by some linguists as tiresome or irritable, it is a standard and indeed a valuable part of informal conversation. Furthermore, it can be very effective in giving emphasis when it is properly used. Repeated items or repeated syntactic units are packed with colour and they contain significant ideas (cf. Berry: 1961: 130; Crystal et al., 1969: 113-202). Repetition is extremely common in poetic language and in prose writing. As regards poetry, every repeated word is a tissue of the poets human impulses. It conceals a feeling which has a fascination for him; that is, the condition the poet has in mind is conveyed through the use of repetition. Put differently, the use of this phenomenon reflects specific mental or spiritual processes or experiences. When a poet repeats certain words, phrases, or lines, he addresses people frankly or directly with certain thoughts, joys, griefs, complexities, or disappointments.People may not merely share the poets feelings, but may relate these feelings to themselves. Real poetry is not merely a moral test for someone who composes verse; it is also a test for the one who reads it

Download this PDF file

Statistics

How to Cite

Hamdi Fathi, Y., & یوسف. (2025). Reinforcement by Repetition in English and Arabic. Adab Al-Rafidayn, 34(38), 23–46. https://doi.org/10.33899/radab.2004.164898