Xu2026
| Xu2026 | |
|---|---|
| BibType | ARTICLE |
| Key | Xu2026 |
| Author(s) | Lele Xu, Wen Ma, Xiuxiu Shen |
| Title | Making sense of conduct: A conversation analysis of therapist formulation in interaction with autistic children |
| Editor(s) | |
| Tag(s) | EMCA, Therapist formulation, Intervention, Conversation analysis, Autistic children |
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| Year | 2026 |
| Language | English |
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| Journal | Journal of Pragmatics |
| Volume | 261 |
| Number | August 2026 |
| Pages | 48-63 |
| URL | Link |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.pragma.2026.04.009 |
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Abstract
While formulation is pervasive in therapeutic conversation, its roles in engaging children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) warrant micro-analytic scrutiny. Adopting Conversation Analysis (CA) framework, this study investigates therapist formulation in naturally occurring interactions from Chinese-speaking ASD therapy settings. The results reveal that therapist formulation latches onto prior talk or embodied conduct to articulate unsaid, manage repair, evaluate responses, or expand topics. Sequentially, therapist formulation can exhibit a dual character which referentially looks backward preceding actions while prospectively projects next sequences surrounding ongoing topics. Notably, the children can demonstrate interactional competence in responding to such practices by deploying partial repetition, correction, or cooperation, consequently exerting active agency and co-constructing effective interaction. This study highlights the utility of formulation as an interactive resource for therapists to achieve mutual alignment with autistic children and facilitate the intervention agenda.
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