Self-Initiated Self-Repair in Urdu Conversation: A Conversation Analytic Study

Abstract

The study focused on analysing the repair strategies in Urdu conversation by applying the methodology of conversation analysis. It aimed to explore different self-initiated self-repair repair strategies as well as different functions lying at the very heart of each repair strategy. The data were gathered from Muzaffarabad-based native Urdu speakers. Participants were chosen at random without regard for gender or age. The data collection was placed in realistic settings and consisted of audio recordings of everyday talks. The mobile phone was used to record data. The findings indicated that Urdu speakers employ seven self-initiated self-repair repair strategies: replacement, insertion, exemplification, specification, abandonment, searching, and code-switching. The research contributes to the existing body of knowledge about conversation analysis by focusing on the Urdu Repair mechanism.