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

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