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“not able” and “refusing” are pretty different qualifiers
To me, “not able to understand” is a capacity gap where the listener doesn’t have the capacity or context to grasp the meaning as delivered
“Refusing” to me sounds like aggravated ignorance either by choice or by defense mechanism
That is fair, however sometimes people use functionally illiterate in both conditions, I was trying to match that as closely as possible.
I like these terms, but nothing makes it specific to the spoken word. These terms could theoretically be used instead of functionally illiterate.
I don’t have an exact match to what your looking for, but a couple things come to mind.
Having “selective hearing” is joke condition: when someone fails to recognize that another (usually a partner or a parent) is speaking to them or fails to comprehend what was said, but is otherwise sufficiently capable of holding a conversation.
The implication is that they are able (or choose) to ignore questions and requests when they don’t wish to answer or undertake them.
“Willful ignorance” or “being willfully ignorant” is when someone refuses to engage in understanding something when given the opportunity or discounts arguments that challenge their presuppositions.
This isn’t exclusive to verbal communication but it does imply they are some sort of discourse that they are choosing to ignore.
I don't hear the comment because I need to turn down the music in my head to listen
I have ADHD and on the surface it looks like that, but I have something akin to auditory processing disorder, in two ways. Like sometimes I just can't comprehend what has been said even though I can hear it. Also if I don't bring my full attention to something I would think that I got the entire verbal command but actually end up not getting parts of it. To the point I ask my teachers to write on the board instead of dictating instructions.
I just thought of Functionally Auditorily Myopic, but perhaps that is misleading.
Inarticulate?
I think this is close, but this would better describe an inability to express themselves with speech. But I'm looking more for the inability or active choice not to comprehend speech.
Actually, I think the most common phrase conveying this is "it's like talking to a brick wall". The hardest thing here is including both inability and active choice.
aphasia
n 1: inability to use or understand language (spoken or written)
because of a brain lesion
See: Bruce Willis
Not always from brain lesions, sometimes from drugs
If they can't understand or express themselves in that language, they are by definition not fluent.
Inability to express themselves is not a part of it, just comprehension.
If you can't understand a language then you aren't fluent in it.
You do not know what fluency is
It's not really a thing is it?
I mean, language learners often have a disparity in their ability to read vs their ability to understand spoken language, but that's mostly because of things like accents, speed of speech etc, all of which improve with practice/exposure...
I think it's something that happens which I've experienced but I have a hard time describing it since I don't know a word for it.
However I am not talking about people that are new to or learning a language. I mean like if a lawyer is explaning a contract to you. Or if a teacher is giving giving a lecture and either you are bored out of your mind a drift off or you are so unable to understand some of the finer details that it just goes way over your head. This might also happen when you are mad and having a disagreement.
I see that as more not understanding the field's jargon rather than not understanding the greater language.
That's ADHD/Autism
Not everything is autism
I think it's a symptom, but why wouldn't there be a word for it
Inattentive?
Yeah, in interpreting (at least the program we were in) they broke down language into production (speaking/writing/signing) and comprehension (listening/watching). You generally need to have good comprehension before you can have good production. Without both, you're not fluent.
“Dumb”
If you’re referring to a literal inability to speak
I'm only talking about compression, not expression.
You mean Comprehension?
Lol, yeah
I would still use illiterate in that case, and would argue that is the correct term at least according to Merriam Webster:
a : violating approved patterns of speaking or writing
b : showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature
Or even just at its most basic:
having little or no education
or didn’t want to try to understand something that was said
refusing to comprehend speech when that person is fluent in the language being spoken
You are either dealing with a troll(who would then use it to insult you)
Or
You are predicting or mindreading a person’s intention(which can bring your own frustration)
In each scenario you may have to make a judgment call on your own to spot the difference.
If you’ve tried several times to explain it; the person could be having an issue understanding it. Might it be a learning difficulty. They might be just as frustrated as you might become trying to explain it. They might even be visibility upset particularly if it’s a learning ability problem. At this point I’d say it’s ok to walk away or find something else to talk about and maybe revisit another time. Or don’t. Just stick to other topics. no harm in letting them alone about topics if they are too complicated and making them uncomfortable. Or find another way to even explain it that might even get through.
If however the person decides to insult you and misinterpret your words, find ways to harm you: you have a troll on your hands and it comes to them easily and they even smile while doing it(similar to siblings when they fight) but they take it too far. block or walk away, do not revisit. Avoid them at every chance they try to get under your skin. They abuse communication for fun and suck up your time.
If you’re around someone in a chronic case that gets worse as time goes on: They have a different disorder and not one as innocent as a learning disability. Cut off all contact. It’s an abusive relationship.
If it’s a sibling and it’s simply a jibe(doesnt get worse/short lived); feel free to develop some jibes yourself to get them back. Here’s one that has stood the test of time: “your face” It can be even healthy. Kind of like how pups or kittens play fight to try to train each other to deal with the real world. And sometimes it’s just good to laugh. Reminds that life doesnt have to be so serious and there is space to play in.
I think this is why language is tricky as there are many nuances to pick up on.
What's the word for when you can't think of a word? I used to know it....
It might not be used frequently, but perhaps "incomprehension"?
Agnosia or asemia?
Asemia seems a good fit. Especially so under the context OP has chosen with the lawyer and the contract, as that scenario explicitly ties it to a loss of the function rather than lacking it altogether.
Edit: Thanks for the new word btw. It's a neat one and feels nice to say, too
Severe Auditory Processing Disorder?
Not capable at all would be non-verbal. This includes vocal and non-vocal verbal communication such as PECs and sign. Non-vocal is not speaking out loud. Able to speak but not doing so may be called selectively verbal.
Not trying at all could have several outcomes and reasons behavioral and medical and would not be any of these. They may not learn to read so lack literacy or may not learn properly how to speak and lack fluency in their first language.
Edit: upon reading some of your other comments, you may be thinking of delays in receptive and expressive language. Which can have many causes.
Fluency in and lack of understanding of a language seem to be exclusive of each other.
How about nonplused?