Which term describes repetition of others' words?

• A. Echolalia
• B. Blocking
• C. Derailment
• D. Neologisms

Answer: (A)

Repetition of others' words is called echolalia. It means someone repeats words or phrases that another person has just said, either immediately or after a delay. This can be seen in various conditions, most classically autism spectrum disorders, but also in some psychiatric states like schizophrenia or during mania. It can also occur in typical language development in very young children, though persistent echolalia beyond early childhood is usually considered abnormal. By contrast, blocking is a sudden pause in speech with an inability to continue, not repetition. Derailment involves shifting topics in a way that feels disengaged from what’s being discussed. Neologisms are newly coined, often nonsensical, words that the speaker uniquely creates.