Speech repetition: A question and an answer at the same time

Linguists use to say that repetition or restatement of an idea not only promotes clarity, but also encourages the acceptance of an idea. Such speech input-output imitation often occurs independently of speech comprehension. 

But in some cases, a repetition serves as an annoyance, and in some other cases, as a simple response or reply to a question being asked.

Let me illustrate to you a few classic examples.

Scene 1: Riding an elevator 

English version

Elevator passenger: "Going down?" / "Going up?"

Elevator attendant: "Going down." / "Going up."

Tagalog version

Elevator passenger: "Bababa?" / "Aakyat?"

Elevator attendant: "Bababa." / "Aakyat."

Scene 2: Going to some place

English version

Person 1: "Just walking?"

Person 2: "Just walking."

Tagalog version

Person 1: "Lalakad lang?"

Person 2: "Lalakad lang."

Scene 3: Acknowledging someone

English version

Person 1: "OK?"

Person 2: "OK."

Tagalog version

Person 1: "Ayos?"

Person 2: "Ayos."

By changing the intonation of the sentences, one could actually come up with a question and answer set. In the above illustration, put a question mark to a sentence or say it in a rising intonation would make it a question form. Put a period and lower the intonation, and presto, you have an instant answer to the same question. But change the period to an exclamation point and that would make the statement an annoyance or exasperation. The trick is to just play it by the ears. 

Therefore, repetition or restatement of an idea—exact repetition or restatement for that matter—also provides an answer. It's like providing-answer-to-your-own-question kind of stuff.