Speech mimicking

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Is this an Aspie thing? Or just something lots of NT people do too? I don't know if I'm AS or NT, but...

I do this too. I don't COMPLETELY copy an accent, but like if I'm with someone with a strong English accent, almost immediately I'll have it too-like maybe it's only 30% or 50% of an accent or something, but it's not how I normally speak. I've noticed it with kind of the slower drawl type of speech, and others.

It just happens, it's not intentional at all.

My mom, who I think is totally or mostly NT does this too. She's talked about slipping in to an English accent, and then being embarrassed when she realizes it, afraid the person will think she's making fun of them.

I'm pretty sure not all people do this "instant accent" thing-probably not most. But at least if my mom is any indication, it's not an exclusively AS thing. Very interesting though that from this thread it seems to be common. I wonder why? What it means? When I've given it much though, I've wondered if it's some sort of built-in mechanism to help us fit in with other people better, some language part of our brain copies it for social-fitting-in purposes. But if so, why do I have that naturally, but can't do ANYTHING ELSE very naturally? Whereas some really social people don't seem to do it at all. It would be interesting to find out what's going on!

In my job, I'm on the phone with literally thousands of people every week. Most of these calls last less than 30 seconds, but some go on for several minutes, and during that time I sometimes notice my accent slipping into whatever dialect I'm conversing in.


My default mode is a mix of bland Iowa/Dakotas midwestern with too-much-Monty-Python British.

Yes I do this all the time with anybody. The only time I can ever truly be myself whilst talking is when I am talking to myself.

I think its maybe a case of the brain 'switching channels' so that it is easier for the other person to understand you - there may also be a case for it allowing you to process there speech better as well.

Yep, I do it too. I used to think it was because I had a weak sense of identity and no originality but now I understand it's a part of the AS.

Let me guess...someone probably told you that?

The thing about all this is, my mom does this too, just as much as I do, and she's NT as far as I know.

I do this too sometimes..almost uncontrollalbly....it is very annoying..to me..

This is interesting. I just saw a thing that Hilary Clinton was apparently doing this when giving a speech. It was being spun that she was "pandering" to that crowd, but I have to wonder if it was speech mimicking. She may not have been aware of it, or would have had a hard time stopping it.

Yeah I wonder if she can even help herself from doing that. Why would she do it if she knows she is on TV and she is going to look stupid?

Also I think there is sort of a weird middle ground where you can do it half subconsiously and then sort of half on purpose, but just not thinking about it, and not thinking there is anything wrong with what you're doing, like it just feels normal, not "fake" at all to the person doing the mimicking... I dunno, no wonder they say I'm weird.

I mimic the original singer when I sing their songs...
I try to sound like JY when I sing Snowblind...

Same here. I will be speaking to one person and instantaneously pick up on her Indian colloquialisms and the next talk to a friend from Southern US and have a drawl as thick as day-old oatmeal. I think it has to do with comprehending people (in my case) because it is easier for me to follow their words when they and I "sound" alike.

I couldn't tell if this is just me or not...I started school in England and have switched back and forth from the US to the UK throughout my childhood (I've done elementary school, middle school, and high school in both America and England). I did live around other Americans, but on occasion after watching British TV, coming home from work, or hanging out with English friends I would adopt an English accent (and especially when I got tired). I've been in the States for quite some time but if I'm talking to a friend back home I find myself slipping in, and for a while I know my mom thought I was doing it on purpose (and I HATE it when people do fake accents, it strikes me as INCREDIBLY pretentious), but honestly it just seemed natural. The same thing happened when I went to Scotland and visited my dad and siblings in Australia, although I was easier on myself then because I'm actually 1/2 Scottish and an Australian citizen. I hate myself for doing it because I REALIZE that it's hypocritical and pretentious but it seems like I have to fight harder to speak with an American accent in these circumstances (although funnily enough these are the only accents I "slip into".) I am extremely good with these accents, and could adopt them VERY easily and sound like a native, and I've recently been wondering if this is in fact an Aspie thing.

I do this as well with conversations, but I can't help feeling like this is an NT thing as well (wish we could get some on here to sound off!) I did this more when I was younger however, though I notice I still mimic people's typing habits and manners of speaking (which I also hate myself for, because it makes me feel insincere and like every other human being on the planet who are just animals in nature trying to fit in.)

My mom's NT and does this, so it might not be related to AS.

I do this same thing! Ill even start talking with an accent if im reading a book where the people have accents! And movies and everything! But I also mimic people, like my cousin. She has always sort of been my mentor. She has the best social skills and a "magnetic" personality. So, ill often find myself saying things in her tone of voice or things she would say. But not just sometimes, like multiple times per day. It's really kind of proof of my poor social skills because some people may think that I can converse well, but (besides the fact that I find it insanely difficult) I am really just mimicking someone else.... s**t on a shovel! Lol just had to say that because that's what my cousin always says!

I can start to pick up accents if I'm around a prominent accent a lot, level of vocabulary, tone of voice and volume, phrases, style. etc. Speech is the only form of body language I can adapt to. If Im around a friend a lot, I will start to adapt their form of speech and occasionally a subtle accent.

Anyone think this might be related to echolalia? Like a really really mild form?
I've always done this, and it was incredibly awkward when I was an exchange student in South Korea and hanging out with other exchange students. The girl I spent the most time with was South African (of British descent) - everyone kept asking why I didn't sound like an American.
I try not to talk too much around my in-laws anymore. I didn't realize I was picking up their accent and mannerisms so well (they're black and I'm white) until someone said "We can certainly tell that you're comfortable enough here!" and I can't figure out if that was a bad thing or not.