Autistic language hypothesis
Autistic researcher, Rachel Cullen, has developed what’s known as the Autistic pragmatic language hypothesis to explain some of the communication differences between Autistic and allistic (non-Autistic) people.
The Autistic language hypothesis suggests that allistics more commonly process language using big-picture concepts. Allistics tend to process sentences as whole units of information, taking the full sentence all together in order to decipher its meaning.
Autistics, on the other hand, tend to break sentences down into their individual words, then piece those words together in order to process and interpret the sentence.
For example, if someone asked whether if I like swimming, I might ask:
Swimming where?
Is the water very cold?
Will it be busy?
For how long?
Will there be snacks?
How long is the drive to get there?
(I enjoy swimming but hate crowds, and need to know I can get away if I need or want to).
Meanwhile, if they asked my neurotypical husband if he likes swimming, he’d probably just answer, “yes”.
Pedantic or precise?
I think this is why we are sometimes called pedantic or “too” literal.
When I’m seeking clarification by asking if the speaker meant x, y, or z, it can come across as though I’m being arrogant, or trying to “show off” my vocabulary, but this is not the case. I’m genuinely trying to understand whether they meant one thing or another.
If someone is taking the time to ask follow-up questions, it’s more likely they care enough to make sure they understand clearly what is being said.
Real-world implications and applications
We can improve communication across neurotypes by, first, giving people the benefit of the doubt. When someone asks a clarifying question, please do not assume they are intentionally being difficult or pedantic. If they are taking the time to ask follow-up questions, it’s more likely they care enough to make sure they understand clearly what is being said.
As has been demonstrated by Damien Milton’s Double Empathy Problem and work by Crompton and colleagues, Autistic people communicate just as effectively with one another as neurotypicals do with other NTs. Therefore, Autistics do not have communication deficits, just differences.
As such, instead of writing Autistics off as having “communication deficits”, and making little to no effort to find more effective methods of communication, it would be better to conceptualize it as a cultural difference.
“To support cross-neurotype communication, we could explicitly learn about difference and how to understand and communicate with people unlike ourselves — in both directions, rather than only teaching marginalised people to fit in.”
— Alyssa Hillary
Through this lens, we can view clear communication as the responsibility of all involved parties, where people of any neurotype (or cultural, communication, and language differences) make the effort to accommodate one another and facilitate cross-cultural communication.
This is much more equitable and respectful than assuming any miscommunication must be the fault of the Autistic person, because we are said to have communication deficits.
Don’t assume
If you went to a new country where you didn’t speak the language, would you assume everyone else had a communication deficit, and you were the only one who spoke “normally”? (Well, maybe you would, but that would make you xenophobic and ethnocentric, so hopefully you wouldn’t).
If you’re not a jerk, you would understand there was a language barrier, and both you and anyone you’re speaking with would need to make adjustments to understand and be understood.
When someone asks clarifying questions, or seems “picky” about language, give them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they really do need that level of precision to ensure they are understanding the message accurately.
The other reason Autistics may over-explain and seek additional clarification beyond what NTs may feel is necessary is because we spend significant portions of our lives being misunderstood.
If you’re an allistic person reading this, remember that you live in a world that was created for and by minds like yours. Communication is often much easier for you than it is for Autistics.
Please, do not confuse your neurotypical privilege with superiority.
© Jillian Enright, Neurodiversity MB
Learn more
To learn more, visit Rachel Cullen’s website, Cullen Consultancy and follow their Facebook page.
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Communication Differences Are Not Deficits
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References
Crompton, C. J., Ropar, D., Evans-Williams, C. V., Flynn, E. G., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2020). Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly effective. Autism, 24(7), 1704–1712. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320919286
Cullen, R. (2022). The Autistic Pragmatic Language Hypothesis. [Unpublished].
Cullen, R. (2018). Do people on the Autism spectrum have an over reliance on verbal communication as opposed to nonverbal communication; body language and facial expressions in conversation? University of Brighton. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25117.56801
Hillary, A. (2020). Neurodiversity and cross-cultural communication. In Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, H., Chown, N., & Stenning, A. (Eds). Neurodiversity Studies: A new critical paradigm. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429322297
Milton, D. (2012) On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy problem’. Disability & Society, 27(6), 883–887. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2012.710008