How does elaboration create four-syllable expressions in Tibetan and Burmese?

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In Tibeto-Burman languages, elaboration is a morphological process used to provide phonological and semantic substance to monosyllabic morphemes. This process creates redundant, often poetic, four-syllable expressions.1

These expressions are structured such that the first and third syllables, or the second and fourth syllables, are frequently identical. Examples of this construction include:1

  • Burmese: cit-hraŋ-lak-hraŋ ("patiently"), which literally translates to "mind-long-hand-long".1
  • Tibetan: blo-gsal-lag-bde ("intelligent, skillful"), which literally translates to "mind-bright-hand-apt".1
  • Lahu: thī-ŋə̄-thī-khâ ("silver and gold altars").1