██████ ██ ████ — EMET'S SELECTIVE MUTISM .
Selective Mutism is primarily categorized as a symptom of underlying social anxiety disorders, more commonly occurring in young children than adults. ❝ Experts regard selective mutism as a fear (phobia) of talking to certain people. ❞ It can manifest in children as young as two years old, and if left untreated, can extend into adulthood. As Emet never experienced a childhood, nor did he have any true concept of human socialization until he escaped the Nazis, his mutism can be better understood as a symptom of PTSD rather than social anxiety.
The golem is a traditionally silent figure, with only a handful of stories describing the creature as having the ability to speak. There are also several versions of the myth where the word of life is written on a scroll rather than the golem's forehead and hidden in their mouth, preventing them from speaking in the first place. Mute and zombie-like, they are most commonly regarded as beings of pure body, their creator's id given life — ❝ an externalized embodiment of [the creator's] fears and desires, out of [their] control or even awareness. ❞ Being given the option to explain their actions would subtract from their uniquely inhuman perspective, one that has no need for justification when they are simply an extension of their creator's will.
Had Emet been welcomed into the world by his creator rather than a man intent on destroying him, and had his first experiences facing humanity not been wrought with violence and cruelty, there is a good chance he wouldn't have ended up mute. Immediately being brought to life in such a hostile atmosphere ensured his preference for actions over words. After he was captured by the Nazis he was taken to one of the lesser known death camps outside of Warsaw where he was kept chained up in an underground facility. He was created understanding and speaking Hebrew, but the Nazis had little regard for a Jewish language and did not attempt to teach him German until it was clear his obedience couldn't be bought through pain alone. Though his experiences working for the Polish Ministry of Security would only contribute to his PTSD, it was primarily his captivity by the Nazis that ensured his preference for silence later on in life.
Emet does not typically experience the 'frozen panic' associated with selective mutism unless he is in situations that trigger his PTSD. His silence more stems out of the fact that he often doesn't consider talking to be beneficial to himself or those around him, as he was taught from the very beginning that his words didn't matter.
The language he is expected to respond in heavily contributes to his willingness and ability to speak out loud, as he is most comfortable with Polish, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Even in 2021, he almost completely refuses to speak in German unless absolutely necessary, and he continues to struggle with speaking English. Your best bet in getting him to respond out loud is to use one of his three native languages, but even then it's unlikely he'll give more than one or two word responses. How comfortable he feels around someone has a large influence over how much he's willing to speak around them, — but is not the end-all factor.
