Duplication is one way of vocabulary growth in English. It is kind of amusing to use such words when you speak, but they are informal. By and large, duplication is doubling one word with a change in either the initial consonant or the medial vowel. From this basis, there are two types of duplication:
1. Change in the initial consonant.
Examples:
Mumbo-jumbo: magician
Helter-skelter: something done quickly and without order.
Hotch-potch/ hodge-podge: a number of mixed up things.
Hob-nob: to spend time talking to people who are in a higher social rank than you.
Teeny-weeny: very small.
Nitty-gritty: the important details.
Higgledy-piggledy: confused
Hocus-pocus/ hanky-panky: language or activity that is meant to trick or confuse people, especially those of magicians.
2. Change in the medial vowel.
Examples:
Zig-zag: a line with many left and right turns.
Ping-pong: table tennis
Chit-chat: a casual conversation.
Mish-mash: a confusing mess.
Flip-flop: a pair of hosewore shoes.
Wishy-washy: someone who doesn't have a clear idea of what they want to be and can't decide what they want.
Riff-raff: an insulting word for people who are noisy, badly-behaved, or from a lower class.
Tittle-tattle: gossip
Dilly-dally: waste time because of not being able to decide.
Tick-tock: sound of the clock.
Note: words like fifty-fifty, goody-goody, and bye-bye don't belong to duplication, for there is no change at all in these words.
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