In My Language

The first part is in my "native language," and then the second part provides a translation, or at least an explanation. This is not a look-at-the-autie gawking freakshow as much as it is a statement about what gets considered thought, intelligence, personhood, language, and communication, and what does not.

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  People & Blogs

[boudica82]

Thank you so much for making this video. I work with youth that have a range of disabilities, some verbal but still their communication style is often overlooked. I am going to share this with my students and encourage them to make and post their own videos. Thank you so very much!

[rachael596]

thank you for posting this video i have two atustic sons who are non verbal to the normal world i seem to understand them just fine .. this video was completely normal for me as with a few of the others you have posted i understand them completly but only because my son's have taught me your language.. but to learn it you have to care enough to listen

[silentmiaow]

It's a sound-related response to the things going on in the video (recorded while I was watching the video). Sound-related stuff is obviously not all I was doing in the video.

[silentmiaow]

Oh okay. That's probably because in the video I only have a certain amount of time to say a whole lot of things, and over a number of comments I can say things I didn't have time to say. Also, although I have my own way of relating to the world, I am often (not always) perfectly capable of doing what I said in the video and switching into other people's language if I have to.

[Gary Comstock]

Wonderful! I'm struck by your title, "In My Language." It seems that the language metaphor gets in the way here. Could I make a suggestion? People for whom language comes easily control their psychological lives by using stories (paradigmatically, plot and character). They live autobiographically. Perhaps others have alternative ways of controlling their psychological lives. Perhaps some use music (paradigmatically, rhythm and melody). If so, then perhaps they live autobio-musically?

[rachael596]

i think chrisaira is exactly the type of person she's responding to ... you are obviously a narrow minded person who has never met another with autism or relating disability =(

[silentmiaow]

What makes you think I do it all day long? :-)

[marsman57]

Anyway, my last comment may have been unclear. You did open my eyes to a new way of thinking. I just think the burden is on both sides to bridge communication gaps, not solely on the side of society at large.

[marsman57]

Interesting video. I do not see you as sub-human or anything of that nature, but I am uncertain that I see your language as a meaningful form of primary communication as it is non-standard even among those who are autistic. I mean, if I had spoke a language that only I knew, is it really a language?

Also, is it really the burden of society to have to learn the individual language of each autistic person in order to communicate with them?

[Zanne Bekirovic]

Thank you for sharing this! I know what you mean..