Abstract
Language samples from matched groups of 80 autistic, mentally handicapped, and normally developing children were coded for the presence of neologisms and/or idiosyncratic language use. Cognitive, social, or linguistic factors that might account for these errors were identified and assessed. More autistic subjects used neologisms and idiosyncratic language than age- and language skill-matched control groups. No single factor or combination of factors was responsible for this difference. Across diagnostic groups, similar patterns of error were noted, except that the autistic subjects were more likely to use words inappropriately that had no phonological or semantic similarity to the intended English word. For the autistic groups, the frequency of idiosyncratic language increased with language complexity. In contrast, such errors decreased with language skill in the mentally handicapped group. Theoretical implications for determining the nature and source of the language disorder associated with autism are discussed.
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The authors acknowledge the assistance in transcription and coding of Cathy Mulloy, Lynn Anderson-Cook, Heather Jordan, and Sharon Storoschuk, and the financial support of NSERC grant 5547740, and AHFMR grant 04764, held by the second author.
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Volden, J., Lord, C. Neologisms and idiosyncratic language in autistic speakers. J Autism Dev Disord 21, 109–130 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02284755
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02284755