Which of the following is NOT one of the five different verbal operants?

The five different verbal operants, as outlined in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), include mands, echoics, tacts, intraverbals, and autoclitics. Each operant serves a specific function in communication and behavior.

Mands are requests or demands made by a speaker, indicating their desire for something, while echoics involve the repetition of words or phrases spoken by another person. Tacts are verbal behaviors that describe or label objects or events in the environment, allowing the speaker to share their observations or experiences. The intraverbal operant involves answering questions or engaging in conversations where the response is controlled by prior verbal behavior, allowing for more complex dialogue and interaction.

Prompts, however, are not classified as one of the verbal operants. Instead, they are strategies used to evoke a desired response from a learner, providing cues or additional assistance until the behavior is established independently. This distinction highlights how prompts function to facilitate learning rather than representing a type of verbal behavior within the operant framework.

Thus, the identification of prompts as not belonging among the five verbal operants emphasizes their role in supporting communication rather than being a fundamental category of verbal behavior.