Discursive methods and the cross-linguistic study of ASD: a conversation analysis case study of repetitive language in a Malay-speaking child

• Main Authors: Mohamed Zain, Nor Azrita, Muskett, Tom, Gardner, Hilary
• Other Authors: O'Reilly, Michelle
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English; English
• Published: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers 2017
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/74796/5/Screen%20Shot%202019-09-12%20at%2012.46.41%20PM.png; http://irep.iium.edu.my/74796/26/%28The%20Language%20of%20Mental%20Health%29%20Michelle%20O%27Reilly%2CJessica%20Nina%20Lester%2CTom%20Muskett%20%28eds.%29%20-%20%20A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Social%20Interaction%20Research%20in%20Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorders-Palgrave%20Macmillan%20UK%20%28201.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/74796/; https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59236-1
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

In this chapter Mohamed Zain and colleagues provide an account of formulaic and repetitive language produced by a preschool-aged Malay-speaking child with mild ASD. Using conversation analysis (CA), they consider the functions of a repetitive expression, ‘apa tu’ (‘what’s that’), that was used frequently by the child across two 30-minute dyadic play sessions. By positioning the analyses against existing ASD-relevant findings about interactions involving English-speaking participants, the authors reflect upon the possibilities offered by CA for cross-linguistic research about diagnosed individuals.