What verbal operant involves repeating what is heard?

The verbal operant that involves repeating what is heard is known as echoic. This type of verbal behavior is characterized by the ability to imitate the speech of others, wherein the individual hears a verbal stimulus and produces a matching response. The key feature of echoic behavior is that it is a form of vocal imitation; the individual does not need to understand the meaning of what they are repetitively expressing.

In practical terms, echoics serve as building blocks for language acquisition. For example, when a child repeats the word "apple" after hearing someone say it, this act of verbal imitation is categorized as echoic. It's essential in establishing connections between auditory input and verbal output, thereby contributing to language development.

Other forms of verbal operants like mand, tact, and intraverbal serve different functions in communication. Mand involves requesting or demanding something, tact relates to naming or identifying objects and events, and intraverbal pertains to conversations where responses are prompted by what others say, not just imitating what was heard. Understanding the differences among these operants clarifies the specific role echoic plays in the larger context of communication skills.