Which term is repetition of others' words?

• A. Echolalia
• B. Clanging
• C. Thought content
• D. Obsessions

Answer: (A)

Repetition of others' words is echolalia. Echolalia is the automatic, involuntary echoing of words or phrases spoken by someone else. It can occur immediately after hearing them or be delayed and repeated later. This phenomenon shows up in certain developmental conditions like autism and in some psychiatric states.

In contrast, clanging is speech driven by sound and rhythm, where words are linked by their phonetic sounds rather than by meaning. Thought content refers to what a person thinks about—delusions, ideas, or other mental content. Obsessions are intrusive, persistent thoughts that cause distress, typical of OCD. So the repetition of others' words specifically describes echolalia.