Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36382068›Full record

ReviewAutism & developmental language impairments

Conventions for unconventional language: Revisiting a framework for spoken language features in autism.

Rhiannon J Luyster, Emily Zane, Lisa Wisman Weil

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Autism & developmental language impairments. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Analysis of Autistic Adolescents' Essays Using Computer Techniques.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026
    Article
  2. Early manifestations of unexpected bilingualism in minimally verbal autism.Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. An Autistic "Linguatype"? Neologisms, New Words, and New Insights.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2025
    Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Atypical Regional Accent in Autistic Children: A Perception Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Observational
  14. The use of formal language as a strong sign of verbal autistic children in diglossic communities: The case of Arabic.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2024
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Echolalia from a transdiagnostic perspective.Autism & developmental language impairments
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Rhiannon J LuysterCommunication Sciences and Disorders, Emerson College, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-4772
Emily ZaneCommunication Sciences and Disorders, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, USA.
Lisa Wisman WeilCommunication Sciences and Disorders, Emerson College, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

Learning new words from overhearing in children with ASDR01DC017131 · NIDCD · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · PI ARUNACHALAM, SUDHA, LUYSTER, RHIANNON JANET · 2020 to 2024
$1.8M
NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC017131
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and aims: Autism has long been characterized by a range of spoken language features, including, for instance: the tendency to repeat words and phrases, the use of invented words, and "pedantic" language. These observations have been the source of considerable disagreement in both the theoretical and applied realms. Despite persistent professional interest in these language features, there has been little consensus around terminology, definitions and developmental/clinical interpretation. Main contribution: This review paper updates and expands an existing framework for unconventional language in autism to include a broader range of non-generative (echolalia and self-repetition) and generative (idiosyncratic phrases, neologisms and pedantic language) features often observed in the language of individuals on the autism spectrum. For each aspect of the framework, we review the various definitions and measurement approaches, and we provide a summary of individual and contextual correlates. We also propose some transitional language features that may bridge non-generative and generative domains (e.g., mitigated echolalia and gestalt language). Conclusions: This updated framework offers a unified taxonomy and nomenclature that can facilitate further investigation and interpretation of unconventional language in autism. Implications: There are important implications of this work for our understanding of the complex interplay between autism and language development. Equally important are the clinical ramifications that will guide evidence-based practice in assessment and intervention for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Indexed as

Autismecholalialanguageneologismsrepetitive speech

Identifiers

PMID36382068
PMCPMC9620674

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.