Echolalia

Echolalia

One of the best words that psychiatrists have invented is echolalia, which means speaking nonsense, but with a pattern of repeating, i.e. echoing, sounds. Like fall down brown town frown crown. Get up cup, pup, sup, bup. I’m mad, sad, glad, plaid.

I’ve never actually heard anyone do this, but all the medical students learn about it so it must happen from time to time. Regardless of what you call it, it’s a sure sign of mental illness—or of terminal poetry.