Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.22210/govor.2025.42.07

Linguistic representation of people with autism spectrum disorder in a contemporary British novel: A case study

Nataliya Evtugova orcid.org/0000-0002-2238-4653 ; Dostoevsky Omsk State University, Department of Philology Omsk, Russia *
Sofia Bogatova orcid.org/0000-0003-2068-1547 ; Dostoevsky Omsk State University, Department of Philology Omsk, Russia *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

In today’s increasingly inclusive society, where acceptance of neurodiversity and variations from conventional social norms has become a fundamental value, the successful integration of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) into everyday life represents a critical challenge. Over the past decade, significant advancements in medical and psychological research have expanded our understanding of the psychological and physiological manifestations of autism, developed educational approaches for children with ASD, and identified distinctive communication patterns among individuals with autism. Global statistics indicate that approximately 1% of the world’s population has some form of autism spectrum disorder, with prevalence rates continuing to rise. Therefore, there is a pressing need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary research in this field. One of the main aspects of autism spectrum disorder is impaired communication, specifically the absence of fully reciprocal, mutually intelligible dialogue between individuals with ASD and neurotypical counterparts. And while medicine and pedagogy study the behavioral and cognitive traits of autistic people, linguistics can uniquely contribute by analyzing thought processes, linguistic patterns, and perceptual frameworks inherent to ASD cognition. It can also promote understanding by providing practical communication guidelines, based on scientific explanations, in contrast to the ones shown in literature and film. The study’s primary objective centers on equipping neurotypical society with scientifically validated insights on how to decode communication dynamics with autistic individuals and establish strategies for meaningful interaction. To accomplish these objectives, the study employed dual analytical frameworks: (1) interpretive analysis comparing literary representations of autism with empirical scientific data, and (2) contextual analysis to map hierarchical relationships within semantic-cognitive dimensions. The article uses an interdisciplinary approach to study the communicative characteristics of autistic individuals, drawing on Russian and international research in medicine, education, and linguistics. It reviews theories of effective communication and communication breakdowns, outlining key principles and causes. The practical analysis focuses on how high-functioning autistic individuals are portrayed in literature with the emphasis on conventionalized forms of communication. A case study of a contemporary British novel examines the way literary texts depict autistic communication across linguistic, cognitive, perceptual, behavioral, and physiological levels. It can be argued that fiction could be one of the tools to help neurotypical society learn to communicate with people with ASD.

Keywords

ASD; communication; communicative failures; Grice’s maxims; fiction

Hrčak ID:

341093

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/341093

Publication date:

15.12.2025.

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