hyperliteral

Hyperliteral refers to an extreme or exaggerated form of literal interpretation. Someone who is hyperliteral takes words, phrases, or instructions at their most direct and exact meaning, often disregarding context, nuance, sarcasm, metaphor, or idiomatic expressions. This can lead to misunderstandings as the speaker's intended meaning might be vastly different from the hyperliteral interpretation.

This trait can manifest in various ways. For example, if someone is told to "break a leg" before a performance, a hyperliteral person might be confused or concerned about the physical act of breaking a limb, rather than understanding it as a wish for good luck. Similarly, figures of speech like "it's raining cats and dogs" would be interpreted as a literal downpour of animals.

Hyperliteral interpretation is often associated with certain neurological conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, where processing figurative language and social cues can be challenging. However, it is not exclusive to any specific diagnosis and can be a temporary or situational behavior. In some cases, hyperliteralism can be a deliberate stylistic choice, used for comedic effect or to emphasize a point by stripping away ambiguity. It highlights the importance of shared understanding and the complexities of human communication beyond the simple denotation of words.