Which statement about reduplication is true?

• A. Reduplicating a word always changes the tense.
• B. Reduplicating all or part of a word to convey emphasis or plurality.
• C. Reduplicating is used to create new words in many languages.
• D. Reduplicating can convey emphasis or plurality in some languages, as in Indonesian orang-orang showing plurality via reduplication.

Answer: (D)

Reduplication is the repetition of all or part of a word to alter its meaning. This device often signals emphasis or plurality in languages, rather than changing tense as a universal rule. The statement that reduplication can convey emphasis or plurality in some languages, with Indonesian orang-orang showing plurality via reduplication, is the clearest and most accurate example. It provides a concrete illustration of how repeating a word or part of it can shift meaning to indicate more than one item. While reduplication can play other roles in different languages or contribute to word formation, the Indonesian example best captures the typical function described here.