The Korean repair initiator “na?” (‘me?’) as an interactional buffer

This study investigates an other-initiation of repair format commonly observed in Korean question-response sequences. Specifically, it focuses on the frequent use of “Na?” (‘Me?’) by recipients to confirm whether a preceding question is directed at them. Interestingly, this repair initiation appears regularly in two-party conversations and interviews, where there is typically little to no ambiguity about the question’s relevance to the recipient. Rather than managing genuine misunderstandings or listening issues, the study shows that this repair initiation serves as a resource to delay or avoid providing an immediate response. The preceding questions are often troubling, placing the recipient in a difficult position, or are sequentially disaligned, catching the recipient off guard. The repair initiator “Na?” serves as a buffer, mitigating the impact of difficult or abrupt questions, allowing the recipient time to formulate a response and facilitating a smoother transition to the next action.