Mutual (Mis)understanding: Reframing Autistic Pragmatic “Impairments” Using Relevance Theory

Abstract

A central diagnostic and anecdotal feature of autism is difficulty with social communication. We take the position that communication is a two-way, intersubjective phenomenon—as described by the double empathy problem—and offer up relevance theory (a cognitive account of utterance interpretation) as a means of explaining such communication difficulties. Based on a set of proposed heuristics for successful and rapid interpretation of intended meaning, relevance theory positions communication as contingent on shared—and, importantly, mutually recognized—“relevance.” Given that autistic and non-autistic people may have sometimes markedly different embodied experiences of the world, we argue that what is most salient to each interlocutor may be mismatched. Relevance theory would predict that where this salient information is not (mutually) recognized or adjusted for, mutual understanding may be more effortful to achieve. This paper presents the findings from a small-scale, linguistic ethnographic study of autistic communication featuring eight core autistic participants. Each core autistic participant engaged in three naturalistic conversations around the topic of loneliness with: (1) a familiar, chosen conversation partner; (2) a non-autistic stranger and (3) an autistic stranger. Relevance theory is utilized as a frame for the linguistic analysis of the interactions. Mutual understanding was unexpectedly high across all types of conversation pairings. In conversations involving two autistic participants, flow, rapport and intersubjective attunement were significantly increased and in three instances, autistic interlocutors appeared to experience improvements in their individual communicative competence contrasted with their other conversations. The findings have the potential to guide future thinking about how, in practical terms, communication between autistic and non-autistic people in both personal and public settings might be improved.

Backchannel Behavior Influences the Perceived Personality of Human and Artificial Communication Partners

“…For instance, a conversational AI implemented for a playful environment would typically demand a different interaction style than one which is put to use in a crisis or emergency context (Goetz et al, 2003 ). Likewise, a conversational AI may have to adjust its behavior depending on whether it addresses a child or an adult, or a person with specific communicative deficiencies (Williams et al, 2021 ). Adaptation of its personality to the personality of the interlocutor could also increase conversational quality by exploiting the mechanics behind similarity-attraction, as indeed people have been shown that people feel more attraction toward people or systems that match their personality (Lee and Nass, 2003 ).…”

“I’m trying to reach out, I’m trying to find my people” – A mixed-methods investigation of loneliness and loneliness distress in autistic adults

“…The first, quantitative study was a sub-study of the ADIE clinical trial and includes data collected pre-intervention at the baseline assessment only. The second, qualitative study was a sub-study of the 'Talking Together' community engagement project Williams et al, 2021).…”

“…This theory is largely at odds with reports from the autistic community of a longing for improved social connection (Causton-Theoharis et al, 2009), and has been criticized on this basis (Jaswal & Akhtar, 2019). A discrepancy in mutual understanding between autistic and non-autistic individuals, rather than an autistic deficit in social motivation, provides a more valid framework for appraising communication difficulties and associated feelings of loneliness (Milton & Bracher, 2013;Milton et al, 2018;Milton, 2012;Williams et al, 2021).…”

A Letter to the Editor Regarding Bambara et al. (2021), “Using Peer Supports to Encourage Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder to Show Interest in Their Conversation Partners”

“…Autistic people tend to have to change to suit other people's communication styles (Williams et al, 2021). Ensuring the social engagement of communication is put upon the autistic person, terming them as "socially disabled."…”