What were you thinking?

Following on from my previous post where I wrote about the divergence of behaviours people have in different environments there was another topic that I wanted to write about in the same vein, that is the variance of language that accompanies that shift in behaviour.  People don't just act in a different way depending on who they are in the company of, they also change the way they speak, the words they use, and even the way they say it.  In some extremes this can actually lead to accents changing where you notice people talk with one accent in general but that shifts when they are around different people.

There is a psychiatric condition that is related to this behaviour known as Echolalia, which simply put is the unintentional or unconscious mimicry of another person's vocalizations.  This can be a symptom of a wide range of psychiatric conditions, most notably it can be an indication that you are present on the autism scale.  Adapting to your environment is natural but it should happen at least in part as a conscious choice.  There should be a driving factor behind that shift in behaviour that you are aware of and are happy to go along with.  If the behaviour is unconscious and unintentional then it may indicate something greater at play.

I have written before of how the technical expertise of the people we are in the presence of can influence the use of technical language, through an understanding that you can use the correct terms without the other person losing the flow of the conversation or being unable to understand what you are saying.  This in itself isn't an indication of Echolalia as there remains to be a semblance of conscious choice to vary your vocabulary.

What I find interesting about this behaviour and this variance is when I perceive other people's vocabulary and articulation vary around me.  I have said before that I have much disdain for the practice of dumbing things down and how I prefer things to be written or said as they are meant to be said, if I can follow it that's great, if I can't then it presents an opportunity for me to learn and the best place to do that is in the presence of someone who actually knows what they are talking about.  It puzzles me when I see people vary their language around others because it is not always clear why they choose to do that.  It can come across as condescending and I have certainly noticed some men in particular try to reduce their vocabulary in the presence of women, you can imagine how those women feel witnessing such blatant chauvinism.

In situations such as these, your actions say much more about you as a person and your perception of the people you engage with than anything else.  You can profess to be one way inclined with open mindedness and equality and social justice and all the rest, but in those moments that veil slips and third parties such as myself quietly observing the situation can see right through you.  I try to gain experience of how people interact with others not just how they interact with me because it not only gives an indication of who and what they really are, but it can also let you glimpse inside their mind to see what they really think of you.  There's often a question we're asked as kids and even as adults of what superpower we would like to have, telepathy is often given as an answer, but having caught glimpses into the minds of others I think I can safely say, I don't want to know what you're thinking all the time, it would likely drive me mad and lead me even more so towards the desire never to engage with anyone at all ever.