Does it matter?

   Yes !

This subject goes far beyond the simple etymology of these words. Because language has a considerable influence on how we perceive, represent and interact with the world. Research (Kenny L., Hattersley C. & All, 2016, Cooper K., Smith L. and Russell A., 2017 or Monk R., Whitehouse A., 2022) shows how words have a significant impact on people's perceptions. What's more, words are likely to change over time. At best, these lexical changes reflect a growing understanding and awareness of diversity. Therefore, by advocating the accurate and correct use of words, we can improve exchanges and contribute to a more respectful world.

   How the words "autist" and "autistic" were formed

At the beginning of the 20th century, psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler carried out work under the influence of psychoanalysts such as Carl Gustav Jung, Karl Abraham and Ludwig Binswanger. However, he didn't want to use Sigmund Freud's libidinous vocabulary for his scientific research. So he created words. Bleuler coined the German neologism "autismus". In France, this word translates as "autisme", while in English, it's spelled "autism". Bleuler derived the word "autismus" from the contraction of the word "autoerotismus". The word "autoerotismus" is the German translation of the English term "autoeroticism". Autoeroticism was invented by the physician Havelock Ellis, but Freud appropriated the concept as early as 1905 (more information here and on Wikipedia). Bleuler declared:

"What I mean by autism is pretty much the same thing as Freud's autoeroticism, but I prefer to avoid using that expression, because everyone who isn't exactly familiar with Freud's writings misunderstands it." (Marie-Claude Thomas, Geneses of Autism, Freud, Bleuler, Kanner, 2014)

Bleuler also developed variants of the word "autism". He used the term "autist" and the term "autistic", as with his "autistic thinking". These terms were subsequently adopted by other authors, such as Dr. Wilhelm Strohmayer in 1922.

French, German and English belong to the Indo-European language family. Over time, these languages have differentiated themselves and developed their own distinct characteristics. However, they also share many common elements. For example, all three languages use suffixes to form new words:

• In German: The term "autist" was created from the word "autismus" and the suffix "-ist".
• In English: The word "autist" is constructed in the same way, using the word "autism" and the suffix "-ist".
• In French: The term "autiste" has also been formed from the word "autisme" and the suffix "-iste".

Likewise:

• In German: The term "autistisch" was created from the word "autist" and the suffix "-isch".
• In English: The word "autistic" was formed from the "autist" and the suffix "-ic".
• In French: The term "autistique" is formed from the word "autiste" and the suffix "-ique".

In each of these languages, the word "autism" refers to a neurodiversity. The word "autist" refers to a person expressing autism, while the term "autistic" describes something related to autism. For example, "autistic disorders" are disorders that claim to be related to autism. According to this terminology, autism should not be considered as a disorder in itself, but rather as a neurodiversity that may be accompanied by disorders specific to its difference.

   The debate between "autist" and "autistic

Since modern times, two languages have stood out internationally: French and English. However, it is English that has established itself as the international language. French, for its part, has established itself among the world's intellectual elite thanks to its prodigiously sophisticated linguistic structure. English, on the other hand, has conquered the world with its remarkable simplicity.

Although English is not devoid of irregularities, its verbal conjugation is far simpler than that of other Indo-European languages. English is also distinguished by the absence of specific genders and chords. And its vocabulary is a harmonious blend of Old French, Old English and other languages, making it more accessible to a wide audience. What's more, English abounds in monosyllabic words, making pronunciation much easier. English is renowned for its flexibility in word formation and transformation. For example, "the unknown" or "the wealthyty" which are used as nouns or adjectives. The same applies to the term "autistic", which is used instead of "autist" by some people. But there may be other reasons behind the use of the term "autistic" instead of "autist".

Some people may consider the term "autist" to be laden with a reductive, and therefore negative, connotation. Those who view autism unfavorably argue that an autist person's identity should not be summed up solely to their autism. So, to avoid using the term "autist", they may use the adjective "autistic". The use of this adjective enables them to distinguish the individual (autist) from what they consider to be the problematic element: the autistic element (or autism). In general, they will also use "person-first language", saying "person with autism" instead of "an autist person". However, the word "autist" can have a negative connotation in other contexts.

Since the Geek Syndrome, it has been recognized that among computer enthusiasts and geeks, there is a relatively higher proportion of autists. However, some geek communities specialize in the art of trolling. And within these communities, autists sometimes use the term "autist". Since these communities are perceived negatively, the use of the term "autist" is influenced by this perception. By association, the word "autist" is itself perceived negatively. A notable example of this dynamic can be seen with the 4chan platform.

And finally, certain groups, such as pharmaceutical lobbyists with eugenicist tendencies towards autists, as well as behavioral analysis practitioners, take advantage of this stigmatization and encourage the use of the adjective "autistic". For example, on the wikitionary page dedicated to "autist", the term "autistic" is overemphasized, to the detriment of "autist", through unflattering quotes and a very biased moderator conversation.

For all these reasons, the term "autist" is often unfairly denigrated. Unlike the identities of "women", "Jews", "homosexuals" and "blacks", it has become unacceptable, for some, to speak of those of "autists". For those who oppose the term "autist", autism is seen as a problem to be fought. With the vocabulary "autistic" (#ActuallyAutistic, #Autistic, #AutisticPride, #ImAutistic), autists can be dehumanized. It's no longer about autists, but about people who are connected to autism (implying "victim" of autism), autistic people. For some businesses, it's imperative to use the term "autistic" because of its stylistic impact. The use of "autistic" contributes to an emotional effect, for example: "My child is autistic... poor thing... he has autism, save him". On the other hand, the use of the term "autist" can be associated with a sense of pride and acceptance of neurodiversity: "I'm autist and I accept my difference without any complexes". The term "autist" represents an obstacle for companies marketing products and practices claiming to cure autism. Recognition of autism as a form of human diversity would call their business into question.

   Why is "autist" preferable?

The debate between "Person-first language" and "Identity-first language" is often discussed in the context of autism. However, this discussion lacks relevance when the term "autistic" is used instead of "autist". It doesn't matter whether the term "autistic person" or "person with autism" is used, because in both cases, autism is seen as a problem that should not define the identity of the autist person. As long as the word "autist" is not assumed, this means that the identity of autists will not be fully accepted. The real debate therefore lies in the preference of the word "autist" to the term "autistic" to designate an autist person.

Autism is not a separate characteristic of the autist person. Autism is an integral part of autism and should not be seen as a problem to be solved. The word "autist" emphasizes the unity of the individual with their neurodiversity (with or without ASD). Whereas "autistic" refers to something related to autism. "Autistic" emphasizes a thing, not a person or neurodiversity.

This article was written and edited in collaboration with ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI.