Twin Talk: Do Twins Have Their Own Language?

Twins and multiples have always been of interest to both researchers and the general public, but the idea that they form their own secret languages is fascinating. As a person with twin little sisters, I noticed this phenomena firsthand.

As my sisters first started trying to form words that had some meaning, I noticed there were many terms that were unrecognizable to the rest of the family but seemed to have a clear meaning between the two of them. Over time I learned through observation that "halli" (rhymes with Sally) meant something along the lines of "because." For example, if someone asked one of the girls why they didn't eat their lunch, she might respond, "halli I didn't want to." The twins also used a word that may closely be spelled "wers" meaning "our(s)" or "my/mine." They would use this term to say, "that toy is wurs" or "give me back wur cookie."

But are these words really a secret language between close twins? Idioglossia (secret language) orcryptophasia (secret language between twins), is rare. Some researchers believe that what may be occurring is that the children are simply mispronouncing words, and the other twin is copying that mispronunciation. The continued use of these incorrect words gives the impression of a unique language.

Regardless of whether twins are truly creating their own language, the main concern of parents should be that their multiples develop strong language and effective communication skills. Studies done in the 1970s and 1980s revealed that twins' language abilities are often not as strong as single children. Their sentences may be shorter and they may not speak as often to others. Biological causes such as the tendency for multiples to have a lower birth rate may also contribute to problems with language development. Still, even twins that are initially lacking in speech tend to catch up with their single counterparts in time.

Watching my own sisters grow, I believe that the issue of a twin secret language cannot be unraveled easily. While they did have mispronunciation issues as young children, I maintain that there were some words that were created for just the two of them. Perhaps they would have overcome their speech setbacks more quickly if they had been placed in separate preschool classes; afterall, they used the term "halli" until age ten. Even to this day, their pronunciation of words is often different than that of their friends. In fact, despite living in the southern United States, my sisters have been asked if they are from England!

Although families may have to work harder to ensure strong speech skills in their multiples, it is really quite endearing to witness twins speaking to each other in a way only they understand. If nothing else, it speaks to their incredible bond.