Reparastes

Reparastes is a term used in discourse analysis to describe a specific type of conversational repair sequence in which a speaker redefines a prior statement by reframing or reclassifying the referenced entity. Unlike straightforward lexical corrections, reparastes aim to restore coherence by attaching the previous content to a corrected category or context within the ongoing topic.

The term is a neologism formed from a re- prefix (again or back) and a pararelated root, with a pluralizing suffix to indicate a class of moves. It was introduced in the early 2020s by researchers examining how speakers manage topic structure during repairs. Since then, reparastes have been discussed mainly within conversation-analytic work and studies on turn-taking and coherence in dialogue.

Characteristics of reparastes include an explicit referent shift and a framing move that repositions the prior utterance within a revised category or function. They often follow an initial misstatement or misalignment and are signaled by careful intonation, discourse markers, or explicit clarification that links the correction to the original topic rather than presenting a stand-alone correction. Because they affect the interpretation of the topic rather than simply correcting a word, reparastes can influence subsequent responses and the perceived unity of a conversation.

In practice, reparastes are analyzed by transcripts and context to determine how the speaker’s reclassification supports or restores mutual understanding. They are related to, but distinct from, self-repair and other-initiated repair, offering a nuanced view of how speakers negotiate meaning in real time. See also: repair, discourse analysis, conversation analysis.