Joined: 13 Jan 2018 Age: 61 Gender: Male Posts: 2,152 Location: California
24 Oct 2019, 2:04 pm
Enclosed are two examples of German words - that is words describing situations which might be familliar to the Autism Spectrum:
* Fisselig (rhymes with "thistle fish") (German adjective): Flustered to the point of incompetence as a result of another person's supervision or nagging. (this might be familliar regarding Executive Functioning - Yet 'Fisselig' alone might just prove most counterproductive!)
* Schadenfreude (German noun): The pleasure that one feels as a result of someone else's adversity. (this can sometimes include those engaging in.......'fisselig!')
Joined: 13 Jan 2018 Age: 61 Gender: Male Posts: 2,152 Location: California
25 Oct 2019, 3:40 pm
It is awesome to learn of words describing upsetting situations/behaviors.
The word 'schadenfreude' and it's meanings have gained limited traction in the English speaking world.
'Fisselig' can also potentially gain traction in the English speaking world esp. considering that the term 'fisselig' is a short length (easy to pronounce) German word; atypical of those many long-worded German terms.
Just how does awareness of words describing those uncomfortable situations help us deal with upsetting situations? Can we learn to be proactive e.g., better avoiding such situations - regardless of whether, or not difficulties stemming 'executive functioning' AND/OR the 'Autism Spectrum' are relevant?
Speaking of being proactive, how can such words as 'schadenfreude' and 'fisselig' be incorporated into efforts to curb/discourage those from encouraging in such upsetting behaviors?
Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Age: 70 Gender: Male Posts: 35,189 Location: temperate zone
25 Oct 2019, 5:52 pm
Every language has lexical gaps. English could use words that exist in other languages that we don't have words for, and other languages can, and have borrowed English words.
About how the lexical borrowing applies to autism I have never thought about specifically.
Joined: 13 Jan 2018 Age: 61 Gender: Male Posts: 2,152 Location: California
27 Oct 2019, 2:20 pm
Thanks to the 'translate' feature in online searches, it's not difficult to find-out how the Autism Spectrum is viewed in other countries speaking languages - applying terms which do a better-job than the English language in defining those confounding (to say the least) situations involving the Autism Spectrum.
It might be very informative to find-out about countries/regions "ahead of the curve" on Autism awareness. Denmark "fits the bill" -- any awesome Danish terms? Some of the tribal-cultures may offer beneficial examples.
The Korean word 'Nunchi' (LINK) describes sensing "non verbal" cues in others; very familiar challenges with the Autism Spectrum!