Do you wince when people say ''Asperger's''?

Post Reply New Topic

Is the German/Austrian name "Asperger" derived from "asperges", or is it dervied from the Bavarian town of Asperg? In German, a person from the town of Asperg would be called an Asperger. Just to reinforce this idea, Hans Asperger's boss in Vienna during World War 2 was a Dr Hamburger - presumably one of his ancestors had come from the city of Hamburg in northern Germany. Surnames based on place names are very common: especially when a stranger came to town, they were often known by their place of origin (John from Asperg would be Hans Asperger, to distinguish him from - say - John the miller, who was called Hans Müller).

On the other hand, the word for "asperging" in German is actually "aspergieren", so the person who does the "asperging" should be an "Aspergierer" not an "Asperger". The word aspergieren is no longer current in German, however, so I cannot get a dictionary reference for the person who performs the action.

So I don't know the etymology of "Asperger" for certain, but I would think that "coming from the town of Asperg" is more likely than "one who asperges the congregation at mass". Of course, we could both be wrong...

Always originally assumed that the doctor was named after an ancestrial hometown of "Asburg", or "asperg", until I ran across the 'sprinkle' word. But you may be right. And my first impression may well be have been right after all.Maybe he is named after Asperg Bavaria. In which case the Brits are wrong to give it a 'j' sound.

It's odd, I don't know why but it makes me uncomfortable when people say "Asperger's" as well; whenever I talk about it myself, I just say "autism". It's odd though because it's just a word, there's no reason it should have that effect.

I also think it's funny when it is like asparagus as it would be in French.

I have never heard it from strangers really nor from people at work. I feel uncomfortable when I hear the word or see it from someone. One time someone had "Look Me in the Eye" at my nephews' party three years ago. I was fine with the word when I was a 12-14 because I didn't understand what it was. I just knew it was something I had but I didn't know it was a form of autism or knew the symptoms of it. I also feel embarrassed if I were to hear it get brought up by people I know. Maybe because I am afraid of getting found out.

I don´t know. When say it to someone, the either go: "Nooooo! Can´t be true!", or "Ok!", or "----" because they don´t know what it is.
My therapist first said: "You have to learn to say the words, "I have Aspergers Syndrome"". I winched at first. Now he doesn´t want to mention it, because I have been so fixated on labels (was given a few by my borderline mom).
I really don´t know what to think or say. I am just trying to find out how it works for me and what to tell people, when I am supposed to function in situations, that typically mean trouble for me.

If somebody says Aspergers in casual conversation pronounced correctly or not I wince because I rarely hear the word used in a casual context.

As far as the Assburger thing I am HUGELY disappointed that the consensus of the community seems to be to drop the word because of this phenomenon. In my view sometimes people do it to bully a lot of the time think mistakenly actually think they are being funny. Regardless of the reasons people say ASS-BURGERS that we as a community seem to be deciding or have decided to give up on the word ASPERGERS because we perceive it as a weapon being used to bully us is internalizing ableism. It is not just a word, it is to a honor a person who had a little something to do with me finding out who I am. The man was risking a lot more then having his name used in a negative fashion, he was doing this work in part to save people from eugenics. There are legitimate reasons to not use the word that some of you were diagnosed with, and you have the right to describe yourself as you please. But I would advise you to recognize that if you choose to not use the word the bullys and deniers are still going to try and delegitimize us. And it will likely involve giving the words autism, autistic even more of a negative connotation. So start thinking of a backup word to autism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reappropriation

Last edited by ASPartOfMe on 15 Dec 2013, 3:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I totally wince when people call me an Aspie or say I have Aspergers. Mainly I don't deserve that honour lol

I was recently diagnosed with High Functioning Autism (HFA). I sought a diagnosis on the basis of suspected Aspergers. Because of my actual diagnosis, and DSM-V concerns, I wanted to get a clear understanding of HFA vs Aspergers. I did some online research, and as far as I can tell Aspergers Syndrome is a type of High Functioning Autism that exhibits certain characteristics subtly different from (for want of a better word) "straight" HFA. Apparently Aspies usually demonstrate standard language development, and a narrow range of special interests. Straight HFA types may have language development delays and a broader range of narrow interests. In the end I became satisfied that I was diagnosed correctly, I embrace my condition.

Having lived with two classic Aspies recently, I was struck by how much more dynamic and effective they were with verbal communication than myself. But I also noticed that they struggled with certain concepts I found unchallenging. I am more visually oriented, they were more geographically / linguistically minded. We each had our complementary strengths and deficits. That general feeling of autistic affinity was totally there between us all. Interesting times.

I am happy to make it known that I am simply autistic if it ever comes up. I think autistics need intelligent, articulate people to speak up about our experiences, and I am always happy to describe my experiences to others if it helps foster understanding and dissipate ignorance.

I also wince at that word, if my family talk about it I shall yell over them that I don't care. Or if aspies in the media are mentioned I'll say something mean about them because I resent their diagnosis.
There are other words in the English dictionary that sound autismy and make cringe. Spectrum, artistic, asparagus, asp (as in the snake), meltdown, aspic.

Ooooh, take care not to be neurotic about it!
Kindly explain to your family how it makes you feel and ask them to focus on your likeness to other more than your difference.

I don't mean when they talk about me, but when they talk about other people or the media.

I try and remember to look at a persons profile before I reply to them so I do not make that mistake. Another suggestion is to look the title of the thread to see if Aspie/Aspergers or Autistic/Spectrum is used.

It's funny, I sometimes hear "artistic" as "autistic" and am like "wuuut" if it's in a song or something. But then I think it can't be that word as it wouldn't fit etc.

Good! When I say something like that, it is because I myself am fighting not to become neurotic

I don't understand why all of you wince.

I am proud of having Asperger's and being an Aspie. First off, I am a very prominent member of my community, so having Asperger's obviously hasn't held me back (although I struggle). Second, it's also obvious to others once they meet me that I have a very high I.Q., and third, others can also tell that I'm a little "unusual" or "unique." My diagnosis explains who I am. I'm very proud that my brain is wired a bit differently, and I am proud to have Asperger's.

I do not find the term even remotely offensive. I find it vastly superior to f******g freak or ret*d or any of the other terms used to describe me when I was younger.