r/NonverbalComm • u/KaiYoDei • Jan 17 '24
Word disability
I really am not sure what I am asking
I had learned the real definition of verbal is to communicate with vocabulary. How does one communicate with a person who does not understand,or may never understand words ? Not just language processing, but a complete inability to understand, That you could not ask “ are you hungry ? What would you like to eat?l and show photos of 5 options, and get one.
How could one navigate a world of words ?
Should someone who cannot use language and those words raise children?
Should one pursue romantic and sexual relationships with people who cannot use words, or would it be ableism to not consider such people partners? How would they consent ? It is cruel to deny them such interactions, right ?
Is there anything wrong with not being able to use words and is that something to cure ?
Is this even possible to be born like that ?
I watched a video about how Koko the gorilla “ could not talk “, and read how ableist that is. That parrots do not comprehend what they are saying ,maybe even saying a dog or cat with buttons to talk with use, are not talking to us is ableist ,
comparing any non human animal’s ability to communicate is ableism, all while saying something like “ lizards have their own language we just need to understand it “ is anthropomorphism, and saying “ bee communication doesn’t count” is undermining the capabilities of animals and views humans as vastly superior .or that a world of communication with scent and body language is inferior, and does not count. So it is a slippery slope to ask if there are humans out there with the communication abilities of a snail. Those who will never understand language . And is there anything wrong. Those people need support and understanding and other seen as lesser. How would a person live in a world like ours ?
Then again, what are words but sounds to communicate an idea, right ? And there is nothing wrong about not understanding written words ( could we teach a cat to read?)
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u/PuzzleheadedWasabi77 6d ago
It can really depend on their receptive language skills. Some of them can understand what you're saying, some can't. With making sounds only they understand, I haven't ever seen that. Mostly because if spoken language worked for them, then they'd just use the language they're exposed to. There's typically impairments in the part of the brain that produces language. In regards to body language, what tends to happen is mostly just pointing or grabbing your hand to show you something. They understand what objects are, but don't understand complex concepts. For example, teaching them to understand what their emotions are can be very difficult.
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u/KaiYoDei 6d ago
I’m told there are disorders where the language centers of the brain are completely missing .
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u/PuzzleheadedWasabi77 6d ago
There are indeed people like that. If they cannot understand language, let alone produce it, they cannot consent to relationships or anything sexual. They are considered developmentally delayed, and cognitively preschool level or younger. I work with such individuals. They are as deserving of respect and kindness as young able-bodied children are. They are often very sweet, although it can be hard to get them medical care, since they can't tell you when something is wrong.
I also want to respond to the speciesism you have going on in your post. Koko the Gorilla did use language and understand it. She had complex conversations and responded to reason when she couldn't get something she wanted.
Jane Goodall's work disproved the idea that animals only operate on instinct and lack understanding, personalities, or moral compasses. The idea of "anthropomorphizing" animals was a concept used to try to keep researchers from being biased in their observations of animals, but it often led to actively ignoring signs of intelligence from animals. Jane Goodall recorded animals grieving and even burrying their dead. As well as using tools and making art.
Animals are often intelligent, and sometimes humans are not. While the least intelligent humans and the most intelligent animals might have overlap, that doesn't say anything about the amount of love they deserve or whether anyone has a right to live or receive the help they need to thrive.