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Idioglossia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An idioglossia (from the Ancient Greek ἴδιος ídios, 'own, personal, distinct' and γλῶσσα glôssa, 'tongue') is an idiosyncratic language invented and spoken by only one or two people. Most often, idioglossia refers to the "private languages" of young children, especially twins, the latter being more specifically known as cryptophasia, and commonly referred to as twin talk or twin speech.

Children who are exposed to multiple languages from birth are also inclined to create idioglossias, but these languages usually disappear at a relatively early age, giving way to use of one or more of the languages introduced.

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Further reading

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  • Bakker, P. (April 1987). "Autonomous languages of twins". Acta Geneticae Medicae et Gemellologiae. 36 (2). Roma: 233–238. doi:10.1017/s0001566000004463. PMID 3434134.