Receptive language disorder of the Autistic Savant character in “Forrest Gump” movie

ABSTRACT

This research investigates receptive language disorder that involves Forrest Gump as the autistic savant character. Receptive language disorder is any problem with verbal communication and ability to understand utterances to make communication with others. The disorder may involve to content of language and the function in communication, such as autistic savant. An autistic savant is a term used for the person who has both autism and another condition called Savant Syndrome. People with Savant Syndrome has serious developmental problem at the same time with certain extraordinary skills. Autistic savants is also include to the disorder that impaired social interaction, impaired communication, odd pattern or repetitive of behavior or interest. Most people with autistic savant do not develop language as early as others, and some never develop language.

This research uses Carroll’s language disorder and Schank’s acceptable response (1985) theories to analyze data related to receptive language disorder. This research employs descriptive qualitative design to analyze types of receptive language disorder and the most dominant type of receptive language disorder used by autistic savant character. The data are obtained by observing the utterances produced by Forrest Gump as the autistic savant character in Forrest Gump movie.

The result of this research shows that Forrest Gump as the main character with autistic savant has difficulties in receiving and understanding message of topic conversation from other speakers, which are appropriate with the types of receptive language disorder. They are absurd response, odd response, relevant but not very polite response and marginal relevant response. The result also shows that marginal response is mostly found in Forrest Gump’s utterances.