[...] there are indeed instances of multiple reduplication in many languages and possibly in all. Examples fall into three types: a) both one-time and multiple reduplication possible with respect to the same form, with an additional meaning accruement of the same type in each case; [...] a) there are at least two kinds of meaning that may be reinforced by additional reduplication. One is emphasis: it is perhaps true in all languages that an emphatic modifier (such as "very") can be open-endedly reduplicated for additional degrees of emphasis. The other is continuity: both in MOKILESE and in SHIPIBO, increased temporal extent of an action can be suggested by additional reduplication.
- Moravcsik (2004), Pag. 321