Published on 12, July, 2020
This thread is the result of a discussion with Out of Step but also something I've been thinking about this past year, since diagnosis.
Years ago, when my friend was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, as was, I skim read some of his book: The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood.
One section resonated.
I can't check out the wording now as I don't own it but it was about how autistic people may not speak as non autistic people do and may not use the language commonly used by their peers.
They may, for example, use what used to be called 'BBC English' as my mother did and I do, despite being working class and having gone to working class schools.
We didn't pick up a local accent.
However, some people may pick up the accent but be fascinated by words and use uncommon words.
Also, when I was at school I used words no-one knew the meaning of.
I did actually use a dictionary a lot when I was reading and learnt these more unusual words (and mispronounced them, as I still do) so that's probably part of the reason why.
My mother also used words I'd never heard anyone else use and said that when she was young she would read the dictionary.
She also constantly used the old sayings and phrases (eg a stitch in time saves nine) and I find my speech peppered with these phrases and anachronistic words.
I think that this difference also extends to speech patterns.
Anyone else experience similar and have any knowledge about this to add?
Thanks.
You'd have been proud of me this evening mate. I walked around London adopting a very convincing (I am told, on good authority) voice and behaviour of a smacked out Heroin-Head from the Hull area wandering about....loudly. I play the loud fun mask pretty well when I'm suitably inspired. For the record, no drink nor drugs were required for my performance....just a keen ear and studying eye. No offence was intended and certainly done directed....and I'm confident none was taken in the moment.
I've not consciously done "Hull" before....but it rolls nicely out and seems warms to the touch!
[DISAMBIGUATION......I have nothing against Hull, nor its residents, and my actions tonight, and reporting of them here, is in no way intended to intimate that people from that area are any more likely than any other portion of the population to have any association with being smacked out nor with visiting London. Offence is never intentional from Number]
As the Bishop said to the actress.
I'm so glad you didn't try to slip the "megaknob" into that response...
out_of_step said:I was unable to slip it in today but I'll try again tomorrow
I was unable to slip it in today but I'll try again tomorrow
Yes absolutely.
That had been a mystery to me for decades. As a linguist I know that little people quickly take on the accent of their peers even if their parent have moved from another location.
But I didn't. I don't sound like my parents and I don't sound like the locals I grew up with either. I once discussed this with my university mates on the same course. None of them could tell where I was from as my speech didn't seem to have any strong class or regional markers to it. We all scratched our heads a bit puzzled over that.
In fact getting picked on at school for "sounding posh" seems to be common to a lot of autistic people. I was.
I could never explain why I didn't fit what my text books taught me until I discovered I am autistic.
They may, for example, use what used to be called 'BBC English' as my mother did and I do, despite being working class and having gone to working class schools. We didn't pick up a local accent.
Can you do Yorkshire? or Geordie? or Northern Irish (love the Irish accents)
Isn't it a bit dangerous Roy?
Hypothetical scenario:
What if you are with someone one day, Cockney. Next day you're with a Queen's English, on the third day you find yourself in a room unexpectedly with both of these individuals together, which d'you go with? Cockney or QE? Surely someone's nose will be out of joint and they'll be looking at you saying 'what's this chap up to?' ! Wouldn't they assume you were, mocking them?
We used to have long conversations on 'Fendumentology' in pubs and the union bar. We had lots of invented terms to use, Canortic body, ristor-valve, canistration etc. - even a mathematical model for the canistration and decanistration process - we got lots of strange looks from other people, which was partly the point.
Echolalia? or perhaps Echolalia-deluxe?
Thanks for the definition.
I find it easy to morph into different accents or use of words. If I spend a short time near someone with a regional accent, I then find it easy to mimic them and learn their colloquial sayings, not in a mocking way, I suppose it’s another way of blending in and using the mask. I can go from BBC English to something like Cockney easily and use different words, it depends on who I’m with.
Beautiful !
Social manipulation / exploitation of stupidity / timidity at de minimis malignancy.
I salute you and your friend.
As an undergrad, I was being taught cell biology and especially the very many organelles (subcellular structures) and their sometimes strange names - nucleolus, mitochondrion, Golgi body, endoplasmic reticulum etc.. With a friend, I invented a fictitious organelle, the 'periclentious fendument'. It spawned more terms, such as pendiphlabatic and di-pendiphlabatic neulones.
Curling inwards, I believe.
What if you're trying to get that last gherkin out of the jar? The words 'slippery' and 'eel' spring to mind. It could be a fourer.
I deliberately downgraded the word *nglish btw, whilst words and language in themselves might be interesting, being it, can really suck hairy ballz.
I won't......and trust me, if you knew what I was up to today, you would know that this risk today is a flat and absolute zero!
Number said:However, I do appreciate your words of caution to me and I do take them with grace and thanks.
That's a relief.
Just don't, please, tell anyone that you have an engorged megaknob.
......ah, but that's the fun of it mate! Never underestimate the power of word soup...nor the joy of preparing it for consumption. My years and years of concocting and rehearsing key phrases and principles that I wish to interject or sprinkle into meetings at apposite moments have made me reasonably accomplished at achieving wordy feats of the unusual. I enjoy the challenge.
However, I do appreciate your words of caution to me and I do take them with grace and thanks.
Number said:I'm going to attempt to include the word "engorged"
'Engorged' combined with 'megaknob' is rather disconcerting
I'd be careful who you say that to if I were you
I'm so glad you did....lol.....but seeing as how you are upping the ante, I'm going to attempt to include the word "engorged" with my triplet efforts.
I can't believe I just said that.