Cracking the Code of Twin Speak: Are Twins Really Speaking a Secret Language?

Exploring Cryptophasia Understanding the Phenomenon of Twin Language

Cryptophasia, aka Twin Language, Explained

Photo courtesy of Shelby Tripp.

After months of adorable babbling, parents eagerly await their baby’s first words, expecting a “Ma-ma” or “Da-da” to melt their hearts. But for Shelby Tripp, a mother from Volcano, Hawaii, things took an unexpected turn. Instead of the usual baby talk, her twins Aaliyah and Ariston started referring to each other as “Duggots”.

“At around age 1, they developed their own language,” says Tripp. “Aaliyah started calling Ari ‘Duggots,’ and then Ari picked it up.” The twins engaged in rapid-fire syllables like “dadadada,” “tatatatatat,” and “tookatookatooka,” using different tones and inflections. It was like a secret code only they understood.

Twin speak, formally known as cryptophasia, can leave parents scratching their heads as their twins or multiples chatter away in incomprehensible language. But fear not, there’s no evidence that twins are actually creating a unique language, even if it sounds like it.

How Does Twin Speak Happen?

According to Diane Paul, Ph.D., senior director of clinical issues in speech-language pathology at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), language is defined as the comprehension and use of a spoken, written, or communication symbol system. This means that the mysterious twin language theory, suggesting siblings born together develop their own distinct language, is just that—a theory.

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Tripp would often try to join in her twins’ linguistic adventures, only to be met with snickers and laughter. “My husband and I would try to copy them, and the babies would snicker or laugh,” she says.

Paul explains that children go through a stage of speech and language development where they use word approximations, like saying “wawa” for water, as simplified versions of adult words. Even if they can’t yet articulate sounds perfectly, they still understand the rules of the language they are learning.

In the case of twins, they may create their own word approximations by imitating each other’s unique way of simplifying words. It’s like having a secret language that only they know.

Closeness Plays a Big Part

As infants and toddlers observe adults and other children, they naturally mimic their speech patterns. The constant proximity of twins, who spend nearly every waking moment together, often leads them to imitate one another.

Jaime Van Echo, associate director of clinical issues in speech-language pathology at ASHA, explains that twins aren’t technically developing a new language. Rather, they are doing their best to communicate their desires, needs, and ideas. During the early stages of expressive language development, children often produce what experts call “protowords”.

Protowords are made-up words or sound-like utterances that convey specific meanings and are consistently used by children to communicate. Twins frequently use the same protowords because they mirror each other’s language. Even after mastering real words, they may continue using protowords with each other, giving the illusion of an exclusive language.

Keeping the Twin Connection

As twins grow older, their speech and language abilities become more advanced. Sometimes, they choose to hold on to unique pronunciations or word approximations they used when they were younger, especially when conversing with each other. However, they understand that clarity is crucial when communicating with others outside their twin realm.

Tripp’s twins are now in elementary school, and while Ariston has transitioned to normal speech patterns, Aaliyah, who has been diagnosed with dyslexia, still enjoys speaking her made-up language. Tripp hopes her daughter’s fascination with languages will inspire her to explore real-world languages as she grows older.

Although the Tripp twins have outgrown their cryptophasia, they occasionally resort to their secret language when they want to be funny. Tripp and her husband cherish the closeness their babies shared, always trying to keep a piece of that magical twin connection alive.

So, the next time you hear twins seemingly speaking their own language, rest assured it’s just their special way of communicating, a testament to the extraordinary bond they share.

Did you or someone you know have twins with their own secret language? Share your experiences in the comments below!