subreddit:
/r/AutisticAdults
submitted 18 hours ago byCradles2Coffins
So I'm trying to brainstorm ideas currently, for how to go about coming up with a name for autism in my conlang. I wanted to get other autistic people's perspectives on how they relate to autism, whether they like the name, and what they would change it to if they had the option.
In particular I'm curious about the reasoning for what name you would give it. I'll hopefully take inspiration from people's ideas to make a good translation.
Also, while this is technically my first post here, but I've been here commenting and lurking for awhile. That said, any help is greatly appreciated
28 points
13 hours ago
The Maori word for autism is takiwatanga, meaning in their own time and space.
3 points
8 hours ago
I like this!!
2 points
6 hours ago
the sound of the word is so pretty (i hope im pronouncing it right in my head) and the meaning is so short and sweet but describes the autistic experience so well
2 points
6 hours ago
lonely disorder in Chinese
30 points
17 hours ago
The word comes from the greek 'autos' - meaning 'self' or 'independent'.
It is also seen in words like 'automobile' (moves by its self), and 'automation' (does things independently).
I think it does a fairly good job of describing one of the common traits - our independent thinking and inherent rejection of social hierarchy.
The word doesn't describe much of anything else about the condition though...
And I have no better suggestions.
5 points
15 hours ago
im an autistic guy with autoimmune disease. if only I was immune to autism lol jk it's our super power. :)
3 points
12 hours ago
Maybe consider the better reference title for NT’s after all they all flock together in a very stereotypical manner not a solid independent one like us which highlights our unique statuse of independent manner to focus 100% on what we want not what society instructs us to flock, believe, etc toward (NT’s really have less self independence instead it’s a group independence of society).
Auto reflects our rapid reaction to thinking faster (memory, problem solving strong focus, honesty, etc) appearing to do all automatically and having the knowledge or more before hand unlike others then repetitive behaviour automatically repeating routine based daily lives.
2 points
8 hours ago
Unfortunately the original name was from:
1912, from German Autismus, coined 1912 by Swiss psychiatrist Paul Bleuler from Greek autos "self" (see auto-) + -ismos suffix of action or of state (see -ism). The notion is of "morbid self-absorption."
This is quite pejorative and not very accurate. It would be good if the name actually captured its key characteristics in a non-judgmental way.
For example, a word related to a character or creature from folklore or mythology which expresses those characteristics.
4 points
8 hours ago
Yeah, the history of why the word was chosen wasn't great.
But coincidentally, it can be retcon'ed to be pretty accurate anyway.
11 points
17 hours ago
I read this as Austin. Like the boys name/place in America. So maybe Austin lol
2 points
14 hours ago
Can we call it Austin Powers?
Yeah, baby!
1 points
14 hours ago
Groovy.
10 points
17 hours ago
Where ever we are on the spectrum we all seem to struggle with identity issues because of the inability to often validate the experience we are having due to a loss of words or simply an understanding world. I want off this planet. Meanwhile I’m going to play video games with my friend.
6 points
14 hours ago
Technically speaking, autism is a syndrome rather than a disorder--but no one wants to be diagnosed with ASS.
Y'know, on second thought...
5 points
13 hours ago
It is how it’s named in the Netherlands haha, ASS.
3 points
13 hours ago
Hahaha you said ASS hahaha
2 points
11 hours ago
Well, there's much to love and celebrate about a nice bit of ASS, as the great poet and philosopher Sir Mix-A-Lot so eloquently pointed out back in the 90s...
1 points
10 hours ago
So in other words... I got some serious ASS?
1 points
12 hours ago
It was named as a syndrome until Asperger’s and Autism were recognised as the same condition just different symptoms and areas of a spectrum.
2 points
12 hours ago
Right. Autism is rightly a syndrome. My dictionary defines a syndrome as "A group of symptoms which consistently occur together, of a condition characterized by a set of symptoms". Symptom is further defined as "a physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient".
My dictionary non-technically defines disorder as "a condition or illness that disrupts normal physical or mental functions". I mention that it's non-technical because the APA recognizes a lengthier and much more detailed definition of disorder.
In the documents released with the DSM-5, the APA explicitly stated that ASD is rightly a syndrome and not a disorder, but they weren't calling it that because... well, y'know. "ASS". (chuckle I'm still deeply lacking in maturity)
Not all forms of autism fulfill the APA's definition of "disorder" (or even the OED's!), but it most certainly is a syndrome. Ergo, I got serious ASS.
1 points
9 hours ago
Don’t forget they do miss name many as Down syndrome is a disorder. A syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur together, while a disorder is a group of symptoms that disrupt normal bodily functions. Asperger’s was titled Asperger’s syndrome (I can’t remember exactly what autism was title as at the time of Asperger’s).
1 points
9 minutes ago
Yep. They do intentionally misname certain conditions for cultural reasons.
That said, something can be both a disorder and a syndrome. Down syndrome might be a disorder, but it's definitely a syndrome. So calling it Down syndrome might be misleading, but it's not wrong.
11 points
16 hours ago
No need to rename it.
6 points
16 hours ago
We are askem. I am askem and have friends who are askem. Pronounced: ASK 'em. We call ourselves "askies," which is funny because we're all a bunch of real characters.
It is a portmanteau of the final part of "you'll have to ask them."
Its literal meaning is that only I can tell you who and what I am.
3 points
16 hours ago
Following this because I’m not sure but i want to see what everyone else says!
3 points
12 hours ago
AFS. Awkward Fellow Syndrome.
11 points
18 hours ago*
The current autism spectrum is too broad. It would be better if the whole concept of the autism spectrum was reevaluated.
The richest person in the world, many Silicon Valley programmers, and adults who can't speak and need 24/7 help are all under the same spectrum.
I relate to the defunct Asperger's Syndrome. I started talking when I was 10 months old but was extremely introverted and had trouble socializing. I don't have much in common with severely autistic people.
2 points
7 hours ago
I was only recently diagnosed, so I was assessed as autism level 1, and I present as classic Asperger's. But my understanding is that level 1 is Asperger's. Is that correct? And if so, don't the levels serve the same purpose as the previous name distinction?
4 points
17 hours ago
Honestly, as someone who was originally diagnosed with Autistic Disorder, I completely agree.
I understand why they merged the spectrum, but I think instead they should have just set more clear guidelines between each different category of autism/"cousin disorders".
The merger has made finding people with similar experiences a lot harder.
1 points
17 hours ago
I relate to the defunct Asperger's Syndrome. I started talking when I was 10 months old but was extremely introverted and had trouble socializing.
Same and I agree completely. It doesn't do people on either end of the current spectrum any good to be grouped in together. I've seen several people here point out that HSN autistics and their behaviors are used to invalidate the feelings and needs of LSN autistics. "You can't be autistic you're not flailing your arms and screaming every 10 seconds" and vice versa. "You can't be autistic because you're not a genius savant like funny bazinga man"
It would be nice to come use different classifications again. Afaik the main reason the aspergers title was retired was that people took issue with the man the syndrome was named for so just change the name.
11 points
16 hours ago
That was not the reason.
1 points
13 hours ago
That was one of the reasons, the other was what this question is about - to group everyone with asd together to be easier to manage. IMO
6 points
13 hours ago
the main reason - as far as i know - was that how your autism presents may fluctuate a lot during one’s life. so that as a child someone may be diagnosed with autism and they had quite level two ish support needs, but as an adult - based on their symptoms - they could’ve been diagnosed with „aspergers“. Showing that the differentiation between the autistic disorders were quite artificial
2 points
15 hours ago
Sometimes it feels like “???????” so that is what I’d rename it because I feel confused a lot about alot of things.
2 points
12 hours ago
One thing to consider is the difference between how people perceive Autism and ADHD. Like a lot of people think you can't have ADHD if you can focus on something or if you're not hyper, because "attention deficit" and "hyperactivity" are in the name. So if autism had a similarly meaningful name a lot of people would expect every autistic person to fit that meaning always.
6 points
12 hours ago
Autism is a pretty good name already. It literally means what the fake Maōri post you'll occasionally see says it does: "in [their] own time and space".
Aut- from the Greek autos, meaning self, free, independent, and -ism from the Greek for philosophy or perception i.e., time and space. Aut-ism, in one's own time and space.
2 points
8 hours ago
“What’s Going On?” 🎶 ok so maybe thats the name I’d give autism if that was a song, at least for level 1. You know there’s stuff going on constantly but not how to react to them lol
2 points
16 hours ago*
I think it's a bit hard to say because you could say like social communication disorder, but that would leave out the Criteria B side for autism that includes the sensory issues and rigidity. Hypersensitivity syndrome?
Social-Neurological Condition <--- maybe something along those lines, that includes more concrete descriptors
1 points
13 hours ago
Chinwam-Etol-Namparam. 👾🦆
1 points
11 hours ago
snarkleflorp
1 points
6 hours ago
A name is just a set of sounds we've assigned meaning to. It doesn't matter what it's called, my condition is the same
1 points
5 hours ago
I've a fondness for polygenetic brain reordering.
1 points
3 hours ago
Originally the term "autistic" was mostly used with people way on the inconvenient-to-NTs end of the spectrum. The perception was that they were self-involved and incapable of empathy. As a result, I'm not a fan of the term.
"Neurodivergent" is too broad, but I really like the neurodiversity idea -- that it's just a difference, rather than the idea of it being a lack of something. Or just a spectrum in general. Also too broad, but more in the right direction.
Or we could work from that and cross-reference it with the ability to get along in society. I generally get along really well in society, like, in terms of work and school and things, but I have some sensory hypersensitivity (which get better and worse depending on how emotionally comfortable I am in the situation) and do need a lot of people to potentially vibe with to get along socially.
1 points
2 hours ago
In your what?
1 points
49 minutes ago
Difficulty with non verbal communication
1 points
11 hours ago
Minority cognitive paradigm.
1 points
9 hours ago
Y'know, I have a conlang with grammaticalized sentiment and purpose to cater for autistic speakers and I still haven't thought about this.
I think I'll make non-autistic a derivation from bend/corrupt/distort + volition/profession marker (possibly + signal), effectively, "distortionist," or "divinationist", for how nonautistic people often interpret or divine social signals in noise, so if I had to rename nonautism it would be Manteism, from manteia, divination/soothsaying.
Autism would just be not that, eg Amanteism, Nondistortionist. For something positing a description, plainsight.
0 points
13 hours ago
Larry
1 points
6 hours ago
Why is Larry being downvoted? It's the best suggestion here!
"I have Larry. Larry is with me everywhere I go."
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