There there

Where does the saying 'there there' come from, like what you say to someone when they are sad?

Previous discussion at:
www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 29 messages 874.html

Anyone have something to add to the above?

The previous discussion at the link doesn't really answer the poster's question. Maybe no one knows why "There, there" is used in comforting. If I had to guess, I'd say the th- sound might be calming. It sounds soft, like a cushion. (Do speakers of languages with harsher consonants say the equivalent of "There, there"?) And the meaning of the word may ground comfortees by emphasizing their location in their bodies. ~rb

Exact reduplications like 'there, there' are often used in baby talk - 'choo-choo', wee-wee' etc. I'm not sure why.

Good point, Gary, and one that implies that when we are at a very low point, even if babyhood is long past, baby talk can be soothing. "There, there" is often heard from someone trying to succor a soul in distress. As for the use of reduplicative baby-talk with real babies, there is a vigorous debate going on as to whether it is, in fact, helpful in the process of getting the baby to understand and start to talk, or a hindrance.

The OED has not overlooked "there, there":
[After citing other uses of "there" interjectionally,] "Hence there-there vb. trans., to soothe or comfort by saying these words."

Among the examples cited are: "1938 D. RUNYON Furthermore viii. 159 He..starts whispering, 'There, there, there, my itty oddleums'... 1968 J. SANGSTER Touchfeather xv. 180, I was sobbing my heart out on his chest and he was there there-ing me all over the place...1977 'E. CRISPIN' Glimpses of Moon xii. 240 There, There, sir. 1977 C. DEXTER Silent World N. Quinn 254 Joyce took the baby..and lovingly there-thered his raucous cries."
SS