Eli5 What is the difference between being “mute” and being “nonverbal”?
In: 11
ooof ok a lot of these answers are wrong
verbal = having to do with words
non-verbal = no words
writing is verbality. texting is verbality
using an AAC device where you input words and the machine speaks – that’s being verbal
someone who is non-verbal means is someone who cannot create words, whether spoken or written
speaking = words in the form of mouth sounds
non-speaking = no words in the form of mouth sounds, cannot speak
mute = non-speaking
in terms of disability, “mute” is often considered inappropriate and demeaning language, or at the very least not-PC, or old-fashioned. that stigma doesn’t really seem to exist in the same way outside of a disability context so “she fell mute” doesn’t really have the same negative connotation as “she is mute”. so you might say “she fell mute” but “she is non-speaking”
in terms of disability, both non-speaking and non-verbal can be full time or part time things
other people in this thread have mentioned “selective”, but this is also language that shouldn’t be used, and is seen as similar to (or sometimes worse than “mute”). the larger issue here is that it’s not really correct. it implies choice and agency
“situational” is the preferred terminology. so “situationally non-verbal” or “situationally non-speaking” (depending on whether you’re talking about one or the other). *some* people will actually use “situationally mute” or “situational mutism” but it’s pretty rare
oh one other thing, “non” and “not” are very different here
“she is not speaking” says nothing about her ability or capacity to speak, it simply informs you that she is not doing the thing
“she is non-speaking” is talking about ability / capacity
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