Repeated or Distributed Actions

Level 4

Dudduba, kikkira and rarraba are attested pluractional stems.

How It Works

Many pluractionals add a short-vowel CVC prefix related to the verb’s beginning. Attested pairs include duba → dudduba, kira → kikkira and raba → rarraba. Prefix variants involve gemination or other copied consonants; whole-word doubling is not the general formation rule.

Multiplicity can concern occasions, objects, participants or locations. A singular actor can perform a pluractional action. Several participants can also perform an ordinary joint event.

Compare Na kira Hauwa ‘I called Hauwa’ with Na kikkira ma'aikatan ‘I called the workers’, distributing the calling across people. Derived stems retain subject-TAM marking and grade-appropriate complement forms. Habitual marking concerns regular occurrence; pluractionality concerns multiplicity within the action description.

Examples (3)

  1. Na dudduba cikin jakunkunan.

    I searched throughout the bags.

    Looking is distributed across their interiors.

  2. Hauwa ta kikkira ma'aikatan.

    Hauwa called the workers.

    Calling is distributed across workers.

  3. Mun rarraba wa maƙwabta kuɗi.

    We distributed money to the neighbors.

    The recipients precede the money.

How It Connects

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Repeated or Distributed ActionsLevel 4

Learn This First

Recognize complement contexts, habitual subjects, plural and established-reference nouns and interior location before interpreting repeated or distributed actions and recipients.

Words in This Pattern

rarraba