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No?
I didn't either, until I started working with someone on the Autism Spectrum. (AS) I work with Akash, who identifies as "an Aspie" or "someone with autism". He is very high functioning - I'd call him a brainiac. He'll talk your ear off, he knows how to get your computer working better, stronger and faster (like the Six Million Dollar Man), he knows about film and photography, he writes music and lyrics....basically he's super smart!
We have struck up a friendship through a project Akash dragged me into. And I do mean dragged. He just came to me one day and said, "Come with me! I need you to interview *this person* for our new e-magazine!" and Take 5 with Leisa was born! Akash just throws me into these interviews. I know nothing about the person, nothing about what they do, up until I interviewed Samuel Johnson from Love Your Sister two weeks ago.
I learn a lot from Akash, possibly because he is so vocal and up front about his disability. If he doesn't understand something he will say so....and because of that I have realised how much of our spoken language also includes unspoken inferences.
For example, one of our colleagues walked past Akash's office yesterday with a plate of food and announced, "I have food!"
Now those of us who have no problems processing language and the inferred meaning behind it know that the meaning of the sentence, "I have food!" is, "I have food left over from the catering for the meeting we just had. You are all welcome to share it if you would like!"
But Akash doesn't know that. He furrowed his brow and said to me, "So....she has a plate of food? What does that mean? I can see she has a plate of food!" So I had to explain to him the implied meaning behind the sentence. Although he understood that the food was now there to share he thought that announcing that, "I have a plate of food!" was silly and akin to just randomly announcing, "I am wearing shoes!"
So I've been thinking a lot about that since yesterday and realised that most of us understand what each other is talking about because we understand inference and implication whereas someone on the AS might not. It's like speaking a different language to them....or it is to Akash anyway.
Now I know to be very literal with Akash and to say what I mean. When we are filming another episode of Take 5 I can't say to him, "Darn it Akash! I didn't put my face on today!" He won't understand it. I need to say, "Akash, I am really concerned because I haven't got my make up on and I wish I did because the lights make me look like a ghost. I need to wear makeup!"
But then again....that confuses him too.....because he can't understand the concept of makeup. He thinks that's silly and a waste of time too.
And honestly, he possibly has a point. Why do we feel the need to cover our faces?
Akash opens up a whole new way of thinking I'd never considered before.
