Affiliation of Author, Researcher, or Creator
School of Communication
Department
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Author(s)
Emily Zane, Rhiannon J Luyster
Resource Type
Article
Publication, Publisher or Distributor
Autism Research
Publication Date
6-20-2025
Brief Description
In this commentary, we present new ideas about autistic neologisms. This essay has two primary goals. First, we argue that an autistic predilection to form neologisms generates intriguing new hypotheses about language in autism, including the possibility that a tendency to use neologisms could be a featural element of an autistic “linguatype” (as in “phenotype”). Second, we suggest that the study of neologism meaning, form, and use can yield insights about a specific speaker and about autistic language, generally. To support both aims, we present the largest collection to date of autistic neologisms. We supply an initial framework for considering and analyzing them, and we apply this framework to some of our collected examples, showing how individual neologisms can offer insights about their creators. Importantly, we suggest that neologism creation may sometimes signify linguistic giftedness, pushing back against traditional notions suggesting autistic neologisms are always evidence of language deficit. We hope this exercise will convince our community that autistic neologisms are deserving of more scientific attention and study. More broadly, by demonstrating the potential value of one feature of autistic language, we aspire to advance collective appreciation for the complexity of autistic language and thought.
Keywords
autistic neologisms, language in autism, autistic linguatype
Recommended Citation
Zane, E., and R. J. Luyster. 2025. “ An Autistic “Linguatype”? Neologisms, New Words, and New Insights.” Autism Research 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70080
Preferred Citation Style
APA
Peer Reviewed
1
License Agreement
1