Duplic (Verbal Behavior)

Skinner (1957) proposed a system of classifying verbal behavior, by function and form, resulting in discrete units of analysis termed verbal operants. The taxonomy is based on the forms of the antecedent controlling stimuli and response products and the specific consequences provided for each operant. Skinner’s original categorization included the following operants: echoic, mand, tact, and intraverbal. However, these categories of behavior do not encompass all forms and functions of communication and language. Two additional categories have since been proposed: codic and duplic (Michael 1982).

The form of a verbal operant is said to have point-to-point correspondence when the individual components (e.g., letters, syllables) of the antecedent stimulus and response product forms match. And, when the sense mode of the stimulus and response is the same (e.g., auditory stimulus and vocal response), they exhibit formal similarity. The function of each verbal operant is determined by...