idioglossia

[ id-ee-uh-glos-ee-uh, -glaw-see-uh ]

noun
  1. a private form of speech invented by one child or by children who are in close contact, as twins.

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

Origin of idioglossia

1
1890–95; <Greek idióglōss(os) of distinct or peculiar tongue (idio-idio- + -glōssos, adj. derivative of glôssa tongue) + -ia-ia

Other words from idioglossia

  • id·i·o·glot·tic [id-ee-uh-glot-ik], /ˌɪd i əˈglɒt ɪk/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for idioglossia

idioglossia

/ (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

Origin of idioglossia

1
C19: from Greek idios private, separate + glossa tongue

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