Why do some people repeat a question before answering?

Question

Examples:
A: Have you ever cheated before?
B: Have I ever cheated before?
~~~~~~~
A: Have you ever stolen something before?
B: Have I ever stolen something before?
~~~~~~~
I'm probably wrong, but it seems to me that the stalling already indicates guilt. (It might be better to eat a Twix! Lol!)

I'm not the one putting the thumbs down. Also, these are observations I've made from listening to radio & watching "reality-type" shows. *I* don't ask these types of questions.

Answer 1

The stalling is something that identifies lying... it's known as a "tell". Something someone does to buy themselves time to think of an answer... when you tell the truth you don't need to think of an answer therefore you don't need extra time to answer the question. The nature of your examples indicates that...


Twix does sound good... mmm

Answer 2

This is done for many reasons: one is guilt, another is to have more thought time to find a suitable answer to the question, but maybe we also tend to repeat the question so that the person asking the question can be sure that the question to be answered is the one that was questioned. It also gives the questioner time to reformulate the question if something was left out in the first attempt. Also, when someone is not paying much attention to what was asked then, reformulating the question is another way to get on track of what is being questioned. Therefore, I disagree with you that the stalling ALWAYS indicates guilt; there are many other factors that can be going on inside the mind of the people who will attempt to answer. When you have a question to ask, you have already thought through it a bit, but the people around you have their minds set on something else and you may catch them by surprise with a question that was not in their heads.

Answer 3

Why do some people repeat a question before answering?

Well, maybe in those cases they are stalling. And in some they might need time to formulate an answer.

But repeating the question is actually a device of Active Listening. It is done to convey to the other person that you have heard what they said and understand it.

It's actually seen as the polite way to have a conversations.

Answer 4

Sometimes it's just to make sure they understood the question; sometimes it a delaying tactic to figure out an answer. The stalling doesn't necessarily depict guilt, but perhaps an unwillingness to tell the truth to someone that they figure it's none of their business, without being rude and hostile.

Answer 5

I thinks that they feel the need to do that because they want a best answer, but they have no clue about the question, which means to me -- Go to the next one, and not answer senselessly. It would be easier if people did that, but...

Twix! :D

Answer 6

1. To clarify
2.To stall for time
A. to think of how to word the answer
B. to think of a good lie
3. To decide if they want to answer at all
4. To mess with your mind, so you'll jump to a conclusion like "they're guilty"

Answer 7

I would say those are the younger people like 10 to 14 that got nothing better to ask. Besides those in that age group that have some real good questions to ask.

Answer 8

Hmmmm,why do some people repeat a question before answering.It might be to gather there thoughts so they can anwser with some intellegence.

Answer 9

Why do some people repeat a question before answering? Probably to make sure they fully understand the question.

Answer 10

Maybe they need to think the question out before they answer. Or maybe they just like to type....