What is an embedded repair?

Definition
	An embedded repair is an other-initiated repair that is performed by the addressee of the questioned utterance by the substitution of the repairing item in the addressee’s own utterance.

Discussion
	An embedded repair may be a preferred form of repair because it avoids questioning the competence of the speaker.

Example (English)
	In the following exchange, the substitution by B of pan for the erroneous choice filter is an embedded repair: A: I need a new bolt for my oil filter. B: What size bolt does your pan take? A: Seventeen millimeter.

Generic
	An embedded repair is a kind of
	What is an other-initiated repair?

Source
	Jefferson 1987 cited by Levinson 1983 360

Context for this page:

Concept module: embedded repair
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): E
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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