Romansh and autism

[pne]

Apparently, in Romansh, an "autist" is a "driver", specifically of a car ("auto").

It does make sense, since it's someone whose job involves ("-ist") cars ("aut-")... but it's a rather curious false friend with English or German!

Though I imagine that the word is also used for "autist" as in "person with autism", since "autism" is "autissem", "Buddhism" is "budissem", and "Buddhist" is "budist(a)" (m/f). So English "-ism/-ist" seems to correspond in RG to "-issem/-ist".

Another spot-check reveals "communissem; communist(a)", "terrorissem; terrorist(a)", and "idealissem; idealist(a)", which further strengthen that theory.

Though I suppose it's possible that "autist" in RG is not formed as in English or German, with the "-ist" form for "'adherent' of an -ism", but in some other way. For example, perhaps they go the person-first way and call them "persunas cun autissem".

And while looking up "Person" in the dictionary I did see "persuna cun in impediment" for "Person mit einer Behinderung" = "person with a disability", and looking for "behinder" (roughly, "disab") in any position in the phrase finds several phrases formed with "cun" = "with".

The fact that German "Behinderte(r)" refers you to "= Person mit einer Behinderung" as one option (i.e. tells you to look up "handicap" under "person with a handicap" rather than providing a translation), and translates it as "impedì (-ida) (peg.)" as another (with "peg." presumably being "pegiurativ" = "pejorative"), and as "persuna cun impediments" as the first option, is probably telling.

So I guess that rm "autist" = en "driver" (only) and en "autist" = rm "persun cun autissem".

Comments

[psitticism.livejournal.com]

I got all excited thinking you were going to discuss Rumantsch-specific issues in the language development of people with autism, which is just about my favorite thing in the world. It's absolutely fascinating.

But I like autists in the Rumantsch sense, too. I just became one two months ago. That is, I learned to drive. I'm not a professional driver. But I'm a driver nonetheless. I am finally feeling confident enough to attempt singing along with the radio while driving. So I do. Loud.