Other-repetition in Mandarin child language: A discourse-pragmatic perspective

Abstract

This study investigated the forms and functions of other-repetition in Mandarin child discourse from a discourse-pragmatic perspective. The subjects of this study were two Mandarin-speaking 2-year-olds. The data included 6 h of natural parent–child conversation. A broader definition of repetition was adopted: repetition can be exact, reduced, modified, or expanded. The findings support the contention that not all other-repetitions are imitations (Ochs Keenan, 1977). It was found that the children used the different forms of repetition to perform a variety of communicative functions such as imitation, answering an information question, showing agreement/confirmation, showing denial/rejection, or providing expansion. Thus, the children`s other-repetitions are not constructed at random. It is concluded that other-repetition often reflects the children`s competence and not their incompetence as communicators.