self-repetition

[Sydney M Lamb]

On Fri, 15 Mar 1996, Haiman, J. wrote:

> Does anyone have some information on literature (or personal experiences) on
> metalinguistic self-repetition?  My younger daughter went through a phase at
> about age 10 when everything she said, she repeated in an undertone to herself
> immediately after.  I've since heard of other children having been observed to
> do this.
>
> John Haiman
>

John --
        I used to do this myself, at about age 5 or 6 I think.  I didn't even
my know I was doing it until my older sister noticed it and laughed at me
for doing it.  Then I think I paid attention, realized I had been doing it
habitually,  and suppressed it.  I can still clearly remember doing it.
I think I was just reviewing what I had said, sort of checking.
My impression is that it is unusual --- not very many kids do it.
But I think many people --- including adults --- do it internally
(silently), sometimes.

Regards,
        Syd .