General Question

Ltryptophan's avatar

Why do some people mouth what you are saying as you say it?

Asked by Ltryptophan (12091points) October 3rd, 2022 from iPhone

Nothing tests my empathy more than this behavior. Why is this happening? Is it an illness? What are your ways of kindly mitigating this seemingly unconscious parroting.

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14 Answers

jca2's avatar

I’ve not experienced that.

elbanditoroso's avatar

I think it’s a technique they have learned to help them remember what you’re saying. I don’t believe it’s an illness at all, it’s a memory technique, sort of like taking notes.

Ltryptophan's avatar

If you’re talking directly to someone and they are silently saying every word you say as you say it, it’s quite rude unless they have the excuse of a mental disfunction that is causing it.

rockfan's avatar

Only time I’ve heard of this is when Will Smith mentioned doing this in an interview

https://youtube.com/shorts/5fOWfxTmK4E?feature=share

raum's avatar

What makes it rude exactly?

janbb's avatar

I think it’s an unconscious echoing behavior and I wouldn’t worry about it. If it bothers you, look away.

Ltryptophan's avatar

@raum it is the verbal equivalent of say walking in reverse in front of someone as they walk forward.

KNOWITALL's avatar

Echolalia. A language disorder. People with ADD sometimes do it, I’ve noticed.

raum's avatar

@Ltryptophan I’d say it’s the verbal equivalent of tiptoeing alongside of you. Odd behavior, perhaps. And even understandably annoying. But not necessarily rude.

I disagree with the commonly-held notion that any socially-atypical behavior is necessarily rude. Odd, yes.

Ltryptophan's avatar

@knowitall Thanks, that helps..

gondwanalon's avatar

I had a boss where I use to work who would repeat parts of the sentences that I said to her. Usually she repeated the last couple of words of a sentences. It was only slightly irritating. I can only guess why she did that. To indicate that she is paying attention? An attempt to show that she’s in charge? Just a personality quirk?

Forever_Free's avatar

@KNOWITALL nailed it. I have experienced it also. Their minds just work this way. While it looks a bit different than the norm, they are who they are and can’t control it.
Accept them for who they are.

kajore94's avatar

I’ve been told that I do this quite a bit. Honestly, don’t know what it is or why it happens, but there’s no way to stop it from happening unless you point it out. Even then, I’d end up forgetting and keep doing it without realizing.

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