363. When doubled, adjectives follow verbs they are translated as adverbs.
- 物事安排舒舒徐徐個 meh zz‘ ön bá sû sû zí zí kú‘, the things were placed in admirable order.
- 做來潦潦草草 tsú‘ lé lau lau t’sau‘ t’sau‘, it is done in a coarse way.
Obs. It has been shown that repeated adjectives placed before verbs qualify them like adverbs. We have also 攏攏總總有一百 ’lóng ’lóng tsóng‘ tsóng‘ ’yeu ih páh, altogether there are a hundred. The primitive adverbs are not repeated.
364. Several relative substantives are repeated without any alteration in the sense.
- 叔叔 sóh sóh, uncle.
- 嫂嫂 ’sau ’sau, sister-in-law.
- 爹爹 tiá tiá, father.
- 第第 ’tí ’dí, younger brother.
- 姊姊 ’tsí ’tsí, sister (ah tsí, idem).
- 妹妹 mí‘ mí‘, younger sister (mé‘ mé‘).
- 媽媽 má má, mother (or ah má).
- 哥哥 kú kú, elder brother (ah kú, ib.).
- 弟弟 tí‘ dí‘, younger brother (hiúng dí‘).
365. When verbs are repeated, it is for rhythmical reasons, and for the sake of alliteration. In addition to the examples given in [Art. 231], the following will serve to exhibit the use of these seeming tautologies.
a. Single verbs are repeated with or without a regimen.
- 要買點飯吃吃 yau‘ ’má ’tíen van‘ k’iuh k’iuh, I wish to buy a little rice to eat.
- 我不過澆澆花咾, 修修丫枝 ’ngú peh kú‘ kiau kiau hwó lau, sieu sieu au tsz, I am just watering the flowers, and pruning the branches of the trees.
b. In a verb group of two, the second word is often repeated.
- 孛相相 peh siáng‘ siáng‘, rambling for amusement.
- 笑嘻嘻 siau‘ h’í h’í, laughing.
- 魚拉水裏活動動 ng ’lá ’sz ’lí weh ’dóng ’dóng, the fish are swimming actively in the water.
- 遊嬉嬉咾, 勿肯用必 yeu h’í h’í lau, veh ’k’ung yúng‘ sing, he rambles about amusing himself, and will not attend to anything.
- 哭漓漓 k’óh lí lí, he is weeping.