idioglossia

American  

[id-ee-uh-glos-ee-uh, -glaw-see-uh] / ˌɪd i əˈglɒs i ə, -ˈglɔ si ə /

noun

1. an invented language developed by an individual or a very small group of people, especially by a child or by children in close contact, such as twins.

2. a pathological condition characterized by speech so distorted as to be unintelligible.

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idioglossia British  

/ ˌɪdɪəʊˈɡlɒsɪə /

noun

1. a private language, as invented by a child or between two children, esp twins

2. a pathological condition in which a person's speech is so severely distorted that it is unintelligible

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Other Word Forms

• idioglottic adjective

Etymology

Origin of idioglossia

1890–95; < Greek idióglōss ( os ) of distinct or peculiar tongue ( idio- idio- + -glōssos, adj. derivative of glôssa tongue) + -ia -ia

Explanation

We occasionally hear of twins, or even a single child, speaking a private language they’ve invented themselves and that only they understand — a phenomenon known as idioglossia. Certain brain injuries or neurological conditions can result in another form of idioglossia, where a person's speech becomes so distinct and full of mispronunciations that it's unintelligible to others, sounding like a different language. The word idioglossia comes from the Greek idioglossos, meaning "of a unique language," from idio-, "unique" and glossa, "language." A related word is idiolect, an individual’s personal, unique version of a language. Everyone speaks a slightly different idiolect of their native tongue.

Example Sentences

At the very least their exchanges were thought to represent the most developed form of idioglossia ever recorded in medical history.

From Time Magazine Archive