Elements of the Autistic Dialect

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May 9, 2024

*Note how this is not titled ‘THE Elements of the Autistic Dialect.’ That is because this list is not complete. Dialects are complex and there are likely many more elements than what is listed here. However, this list can be used to start a conversation around language diversity in the context of respecting natural autistic communication instead of pathologizing it.

Elements of the Autistic dialect include (but are not limited to):

Echolalia

Autistics like to repeat back sounds and phrases. For some Autistics, this is a primary form of communication, and for others it may be more subtle, for example we may have a catch phrase or frequently quote people and characters.

Stimming

There are many ways we stim with language, but some popular ones are: wordplay, whistling, humming, rhyming, singing, and signature sounds (think: honks, whistles, funny voices).

Organization—Mazing

We don’t often speak in a tidy line, instead we take the scenic route with lots of loops, veers, and U-turns. To us, this isn’t getting side-tracked so much as enhanced information sharing for further understanding. To those who are culturally competent, our language mazes convey a great deal of information and add another layer of depth to our communication.

Gestures

Hand flapping is a common Autistic gesture that has a lot of detail and nuance and can convey different meanings with subtle shifts. For instance, we might have one hand flap gesture for when we’re annoyed and another one for when we’re delighted. This is similar to the allistic fist-pump popular in the U.S., which can be used to communicate everything from “Why I oughtta!” to “Way to go! Success!”

Special interests

For Autistics, interests aren’t a passive thing, they are often vehicles for understanding, interacting, and regulating. They apply to every part of our lives and become the lenses that help us to see more clearly (and for those who are looking—it helps others to see us more clearly too). An autistic whose special interest is the Victorian Era, England, may speak with some of the language from Downton Abbey, whereas someone who has an interest in Star Trek might interject in Klingon.

Tone

Shifts in volume and speed are primarily used to convey tone rather than pitch and rhythm variation. We may speak so quickly when we’re excited that we forget to breathe and then must gasp for air before we can keep going.

Respect language diversity

Many of these elements overlap and interplay to weave a varied, complex, nuanced, and distinct dialect. The Autistic dialect (which includes modalities such as AAC) has value and is part of language diversity. It does not need to be fixed—it needs to be respected.

What would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments!