Which term refers to the process where speakers attempt to correct or manage problems that arise during a conversation, e.g., echoing or asking for clarification?

• A. transaction marker
• B. conversational repair
• C. grammaring
• D. dictogloss

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is conversational repair—the way people fix or manage problems that pop up in a conversation. When something’s unclear, misheard, or jumbled, speakers actively address it by repeating, reformulating, or asking for clarification. This can be self-initiated, where the speaker corrects themselves, or other-initiated, where the other person signals a problem and a repair follows. Echoing someone’s words or requesting clarification are classic examples of this process, helping to keep the talk coherent and mutually understood.

Other terms describe different aspects of interaction. Transaction markers, for instance, are words that help manage turn-taking and flow, not specifically the act of repairing understanding. Grammaring and dictogloss refer to separate concepts—grammaring is about language use and accuracy in discourse, and dictogloss is a classroom activity for reconstructing a heard text—not the live repair of a conversation.