Toggling Signifiers: Rising and Falling Linked Verb Pairs in Hindi-Urdu
Abstract
Grammatical and linguistic accounts of Hindi-Urdu identify two general types of partially reduplicating verbs: echoics and synonymics. This paper defines and explores a third type: partially reduplicating rising or falling linked verb pairs composed of morphologically and/or semantically related verbs that differ in transitivity grade by one or more degree. One member of such pairs is vocal, controlling alignment, vector choice, auxiliation, and meaning. It signifies. The other member is mute or silent. The paper describes the alternating pattern of signifying and silencing that informs this type and provides copious attestations to support recognizing it as an established feature of Hindi-Urdu grammar.
Submitted: April 27, 2026 | Accepted: June 30, 2026 | Language: en
Keywords Transitivity grade • Fallers • Vocal • Diphrasis • Duoverbation • Silent • Riser • Alternation • Linked verb pairs
Copyright © 2026 Peter Edwin Hook. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/bhasha/2785-5953/2026/01/002