“Autistic people struggle with language. They don’t understand when you say the horse has bolted.”
No. It’s a bit different from this.
(Also, at least say the horse has sailed, make it interesting)
What Autistic people and people who don’t speak your English struggle with is hidden meaning. Like in this post.
What do you mean “your English”, Claire? There is only one English.
*Linguist mode activated*
There are hundreds of thousands of Englishes.
Regional variation.
Class variation.
Education.
Neurotype.
Age.
Gender.
Health.
Oh, and that is just the native speakers.
And, did I mention everyone has more than one English?
You don’t speak to your granny like to the lads in the pub. Hopefully…
Okay, now where does your autistic colleague or student struggle?
Hidden meaning you can’t look up.
Let’s take email sign offs…
Kind regards: My default setting. Like a Roomba with manners. I did not put effort in. Not really kind.
Regards: I’m very cross with you.
Warm regards: Something is afoot. You will discover it in Act III.
Best regards: I want something. I likely don’t know you and I’m just hoping for the best.
With regards: I don’t speak English well and Google suggested this.
Best: The salted crisp of sign-offs. Acceptable. Emotionally vacant.
Thanks: I’m polite, but make no mistake — the clock is ticking.
Thanks again: Please read the subtext before things escalate. My patience is now as thin as a UK bin bag.
Thanks in advance: Emotional extortion in professional font. You are now forced to do what I asked for.
All the best: I’m about to retire or I think you are/should be.
Appreciate it: I absolutely do not. In fact, I’m annoyed you didn’t already do this.
Yours truly: Romantic. Does not belong here.
Now, “regards” does not always “I’m angry with you”, it means that depending on who said it. And if you don’t know the person you have to learn to guess correctly from their role, age, skin colour, name, and the rest of the email.
That’s a lot of work and really complicated and requires a strong theory of mind (thinking yourself into someone else’s shoes).
Now what?
So, if my student/colleague doesn’t get my hint they are autistic?
Maybe. Or not a native speaker. Or from a different English speaking part where things are phrased differently. Or not that gifted with social antennae.
But, good news! You don’t have to know. Just use these 3 tips on everyone and you’re sorted:
1. No hints!
⛔ “Maybe Bauer 2012 is worth a look…”
✅ “Read Bauer 2012 please.”
2. Clear language
⛔ “This is quite good, you might want to do a little editing…”
✅ “This has potential but it is not there, yet. You will have to make substantive edits.”
3. Assume no malice:
⛔ “Bob was rude to me, I have HR on speed dial!!!”
✅ “Okay, what Bob said sounded a bit rude to me. What is the best possible interpretation of what he just said? It’ll roll with that until proven otherwise.”
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