Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures Online

This feature is about the possibility of doubling the verb in order to focus on the situation referred to by the verb.

There are two main kinds of verb doubling constructions: the fronting of the verb with a copy of the verb left in the background clause, and the reduplication of the verb within the matrix clause. The first is illustrated by Trinidad English Creole Iz walk he walkin. ‘He really is walking (and not taking the bus).’ The second is illustrated by Sango A-zo a-vo gi vo-ngo. ‘People just buy it (without subscribing to the newspaper).’