Not a word too many

When extra words are in order.

THIS article follows from the previous one, “A word too many” (MOE, March 26). Thus far we have discussed situations where one or more superfluous words are a no-no. On the other hand, there are instances where “a word too many” or “too many words” are quite in order. In this context, the term reduplication first comes to mind. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 1974, defines reduplication as “repeating (a linguistic element) exactly or with a slight change (e.g. hurly-burly)”. Here – with apologies to Kee Thuan Chye, MOE’s former editor – permit me to split hairs by distinguishing between the term reduplication to mean “a word formed by repeating a linguistic element exactly)” and the term rhyming compound to mean “a word formed by repeating a linguistic element with a slight change”. (The underlinings are my own.)