• Echolalia

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /É›kÉ™(ÊŠ)ˈleɪlɪə/
    • Rhymes: -eɪliÉ™

    Origin

    From echo + -lalia.

    Full definition of echolalia

    Noun

    echolalia

    (countable and uncountable; plural echolalias)
    1. (clinical psychology) The immediate, involuntary, and repetitive echoing of words or phrases spoken by another.
    2. An infant's repetitive imitation of vocal sounds spoken by another person, occurring naturally during childhood development.
    3. Any apparently meaningless, repetitious noises, especially voices.
      • 1926, F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Penguin 2000, p. 50:There was the boom of a bass drum, and the voice of the orchestra leader rang out suddenly above the echolalia of the garden.
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