Artic Spectrum, High Artic, Low Artic and No Artic
What is the artic spectrum? Artic is short for "articulation", the loss of articulation in this sense, is similar to the loss of speech, and varies between many different people for many different reasons. I have coined this term as a replacement for "nonverbal", as those communities do not wish speaking people to use that term. This term is for any person who experiences some type of speech loss, struggle or any other form of loss of communication. This term is not meant to speak over any nonverbal person, and is instead to give a word to those who fall outside of non-speaking, yet cannot speak all the time, for whatever reason.
What does the artic spectrum encompass? Anyone who has varying levels of articulation, and for some, that may change depending on the day, month, whatever. These terms are especially made for systems who have alters who cannot speak, vocalize or articulate, while other members of the system can. But anyone can use them, and you can use these terms depending on how you feel, according to the day.
Why call it "artic"? I was searching for terms that are simple, yet easy to understand and vocalize. I felt the definition of articulation, the formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech, to be appropriate towards coining a new term. Artic does not mean the same exact thing, but it means to be an umbrella term for those who can speak sometimes, but not all the time, for whatever reason. So a fluid spectrum to making noise to not being able to make any, I find this term appropriate.
High Artic Flag
html color codes: FFDDA1, F9AF82, D7595B, AE3861
Warm colors are meant to represent the ability to vocalize as much as one wants. Such things, as hot soup or tea, are meant as a cure for things like a sore throat. Its only appropriate that the flag colors are warm.
This term is meant for a day or period of time where you feel vocal and ready to speak, perhaps even hyperverbal. Some people may feel this more than others. Some alters, may be more on the high artic, than low.
Low Artic Flag
html color codes: D4EFFC, C0CDF0, 66ABCB, 4775B8
Cold colors are reminiscent of the arctic, which reminds me of this word. And when you're cold, you may stutter or struggle to speak, so that's how this feels like. You just can't seem to warm up your vocal cords, no matter how hard you try.
This term is meant for those who often struggle to speak, only able to get a few words or sounds out, whether its the full person or an alter. You may even feel like its hard to speak your native language. But as these terms are fluid, it can be depending on day to day, but it doesn't have to be.
No Artic Flag
html color codes: EBDEFA, BDCDE4, 614A96, 423454
There isn't a super specific reason why it's purple, but the colors in the flag are almost black and white, along with an icy cold blue. The icy blue is supposed to be a call back to the low artic flag, if you don't have any artic, you are in the low category anyway. I felt the deep dark purple, was almost black. If you can't speak, for whatever reason, it may feel suffocating like the color black. Or empty, void of noise, like the color white.
This is meant for people who lose speech entirely for a period of time, or has an alter who cannot speak at all. This can happen during stressful moments, this can be because of a specific disorder, this can happen due to anxiety, really any sort of way. Loss of speech is scary, but you can use this term to help communicate that.
You can also refer to yourself as "non artic", if you'd like.
Artic Spectrum Flag
html color codes: C4D8C3, B0E6D4, 68A292, 3C8A8A
Green is a neutral color between warm and cool. So it's appropriate that the spectrum would be neutral to both.
This term of artic spectrum is meant for someone like me, who grew up in intensive speech therapy, and has alters with varying levels of verbality, so developing different parts of me, meant that some of us can speak better than others. Some of us can barely speak at all. So, if you've had a similar experience, or just need terms like this to describe your experience, go for it. It's good to have a way to communicate something that you feel like you haven't been able to. Especially if your speech loss is fluid, or from alter to alter, like mine. It's meant for anyone who has varying levels of speech, especially if you don't know why. These terms are for you.
Please be kind, and this is for people who feel like other terms are a mouthful, but don't know an easy way to describe their experience. Speech is complex, especially if you grew up not knowing the right way to. Or if you have a speech impediment, like me. And if you can't pronounce this right, no worries, you can just make an emoji or type it down, or something. Or you can just say it differently and that's completely fine. I hope this works for those who need it.
