Is there a name for the act of a person silently (and subconsciously) mouthing what someone else is saying?

Question

I've noticed that some people will silently mouth the words of another person when the other person is speaking, and they seem to do this without realizing it. In some extreme cases that I've witnessed, not only does the person silently mouth the words, they even make the same faces that the person speaking is making. Anyone know if there's a name for this act? I know "mimicking" describes this, but I'm sure there must be a clinical phsychological term for it. Thanks!

Answer 1

Interesting question. I am sure there may be a medical name for it if it is pronounced, but I can tell you that its point of origin was in our pre-homo sapien days when we used facial expressions and noises instead of language. It may be a case of a primal instinct still acting out in a modern person.

Answer 2

Mouthing Words While Others Speaking

Answer 3

good question - and thanks to the person who gave the name - echolalia - i just wanted to add ... my mother used to do this when i was young - i can remember being upset about something when i was really little - maybe 4 or 5 - and as i was crying and telling her about it i could see her mouth forming the words - i havent really thought about this much but ive always deduced that it was the result of being especially sympathetic to the speaker and/or having a keen desire to understand them - in other words i think it enhances the communication - and i agree for the most part the person is not aware they are doing it

Answer 4

Yes; it's called insanity.
Otherwise try to plot the occurrences against the number of joints you've had the night before.

Answer 5

Would that be a coward or a mighty insecure person.

Answer 6

seems like psychological mocking arising from spite.

Answer 7

I know someone who does this!

It is called "echolalia"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolalia
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26315

Answer 8

annoying!