Hello. Is there a list of anything that you want to see more in mute/non-speaking fictional characters? Are there any tropes/stereotypes that i need to be wary of? Thanks!
Hi!
We would love to see:
All sorts of AAC methods (high tech, low tech, and no tech)
Disabilities other than "functionally abled but magically just can't speak", like cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, language processing disorders, situational mutism, apraxia, etc.
On that note, if your character can't speak because their tongue got cut out, which seems to be the major reason to have a nonspeaking character in fiction, that will affect their quality of life in a lot of ways other than being unable to speak. Commit to actually portraying that, please. Or just pick another reason they don't speak!
Fewer characters who are hearing and use sign language. Not that it never happens, but it makes up the vast majority of sign language representation in fiction and pop culture, despite being a very small percentage of actual signers in real life.
If you want a signing character, please consider making a Deaf character! (Think about how easy it is if you already have a character translating what your signing character is saying: just have them interpret spoken language too. You're now like 3/4 of the way to having solid Deaf representation.)
Nonverbal characters who are physically capable of making noise, like grunting, laughing, squealing, etc. even though they can't actually speak. These sounds can be communicative or non-communicative.
Or using echolalia, accidental mouth words, or other non-communicative speech in the case of autistic or intellectually disabled characters!
Mod Rock and mod Sasza
