What does "small small" mean in Indian English?
This question was put on hold as 'not clear' but OP has said 'subcontinental languages' which obviously refers to Indian subcontinental languages, because I have not heard of any other subcontinent. Moreover the tag 'Indian English' has been used.
My guess is that this is merely used to express a plural form (...) Am I right?
OP wants to know 'whether I am is right to think that double words like big big and small small indicate plurality?' The title asks: How should I express this in (idiomatically correct) English?
What is not clear in this question?What is not clear in this question?
John Hamilton has written a very confident, correct answer that was supported by 1006a. It says that OP is right to interpret plurality, and the equivalent English term would be 'numerous' or 'many.' I can confirm that this answer is correct, and I ought to know because I am Indian!
MANY USERS MADE WELL-INTENTIONED SPECULATIVE ANSWERS THAT WERE FAR OFF TARGET.
Are we supposed to present 'educated guesswork' as answers rather than comments? Was that the reason for putting this Q on hold?
If not, then there is nothing ambiguous about the question and it ought to be reopened.