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Hey all!

 

A while back I introduced myself and I also said I might have some questions regarding a translation of a book I'm doing (I'm Not Strange, I Have Autism by Ellen van Gelder). I do have some questions now, and they're probably quite easy to answer, because it's mainly what you call certain concepts in English.

 

1. What do you call someone who has ASD? And do you refer to it as 'someone with ASD' or 'someone with an ASD'? This book refers to them as 'fellow-autis' and 'ASD-ers'.

2. What do you call something that is kind of an obsession, but mainly just a very big hobby? Examples are watching animal skeletons, insects, veganism, etc. The Dutch word for it is a 'fiep'.

3. What do you call a kind of club thing where people with ASD gather to hang out? (Is there even a thing like that in the UK?)

 

Thanks, guys!

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Hi Avivaa, first off just wanna say that what you're doing is really great! All too often people in the UK are denied access to useful books written abroad due to the language barrier, so your work in translating a Dutch book for English speakers is amazing :) I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can:

 

1. An official term for someone with ASD is simply 'autistic'. It can be used as both an adjective or a noun, for example 'An autistic child' as an adjective or 'He's an autistic' as a noun. I think (but may be wrong) the correct phrase is 'someone with ASD' rather than 'someone with an ASD', although it's tricky as there is so much debate among medical professionals regarding autism as a condition.

2. Usually for people with autism this is referred to as a 'special interest'. There is probably a more official term for this, but this is how it is mostly referred to. I don't think there's an English equivalent to the word 'fiep' unfortunately - we could do with one though, maybe we could borrow 'fiep' from you? :P

3. The closest phrase I can think of for this is 'support group'. You're right though, they're not a very common concept in the UK.

 

Hope this helps!

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Excellent post there laddo totally agree there.

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My interpretations:

1. It don't think it really matters which ones you choose; even the 'experts' disagree, use different terms and view autism in different ways. I say that I'm on the autism spectrum. Some refer to high- or low-functioning autism, yet being 'high functioning' doesn't mean that we may not support in some areas. I've never heard the word 'auties' used before, but it's a good one. Someone with Asperger's syndrome may often use the shorthand, Aspie - as I do. It's less clinically formal and seems to reflect a positive acceptance and even pride in having the condition. (Personally, I don't see it as a disorder, and tend to see neurotypical society as disordered, not least in the way it treats us).

 

 

2. We have no real word for an obsessive hobby and tend to use the term special interest. I'd sooner call it a passion or devotion than an obsession, though. I have so many that I split them into general interests (philomathic), many special interests and a few specialised interests (polymathic) - but then I don't conform to the classic male-type AS presentation (some females do). My interests are mainly intellectual, but for many they may not be. By the way, I'm also a vegan (virtually) but I would never consider that as a hobby (although cookery could well be), but rather as acting out my philosophy of life according to my conscience and ethical values. (If I chose not do so, I'd see myself as being selfish, dishonest and hypocritical. However, any diet can become a hobby with some people, including many NTs.

3. No generic name - maybe there should be. Various autism groups do exist, but they seem to make up their own names. Many tend to concentrate more on parents with autistic children.

Hope this helps.

Edited by Mihaela

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Speaking as the daughter of a professional translator, I can't help thinking this translation job would be better done by a native English speaker. The Institute of Translation and Interpreting's Code of Professional Conduct explicitly says: "...members shall translate only into a language that is either (i) their mother tongue or language of habitual use, or (ii) one in which they have satisfied the Institute that they have equal competence. They shall translate only from those languages in which they can demonstrate they have the requisite skills." You can search for a Dutch to English translator here; at last count there were 89 registered, of which 10 are based in the Netherlands.

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