Composite Social Actions: Question-Intoned Repeat-Formatted Repair Initiation in Mandarin Conversation

Abstract

Repair refers to the process of detecting and responding to problems with speaking, hearing or understanding in talk-in-interaction. In Mandarin conversation, repetition can function as a linguistic device for implementing other-initiated repair. This is primarily realized through three specific practices: question-intoned repetitions, repetitions suffixed with the final particle “a” and repetitions suffixed with the final particle “ma”. Focusing on the first type, this study conducts a fine-grained analysis of naturally occurring Mandarin conversations to demonstrate that such repetitions function not merely as a device for repair initiation, but as inherently composite social actions. Within a single turn, they can simultaneously accomplish additional interactional work, such as seeking clarification, highlighting unexpectedness, or negotiating responsibility. By examining their sequential environment and co‑occurrence patterns, this study reveals how interactants utilize this repair form to manage both understanding and social relations within the micro‑dynamics of conversation.