The word "哇哇" is formed through the linguistic process of reduplication, specifically the full repetition of the single-syllable onomatopoeic character "哇" (wā), which itself phonetically mimics the sound of crying or loud exclamation. This duplication serves to intensify and elongate the sound it represents, creating a vivid auditory impression of continuous, often frantic or dramatic, wailing (like a baby's cry) or loud, repetitive exclamations of surprise. As a result, "哇哇" functions not as a word with a discrete conceptual meaning but as an expressive mimetic word that vividly depicts a specific sound in a reinforced, descriptive manner.