I have synesthesia which means I can “taste” words. Ask me what your name tastes like.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 27, 2019
Some people have an uncommon condition called synesthesia, which essentially means that one of their senses is understood by another sense (or senses). One of our favorite examples of a synesthetic person is Melissa McCracken, an artist who hears colors and translates their music into gorgeous paintings. But the condition can happen in other ways, too—people’s brains get “cross-wired” in different forms. Twitter user Julie McDowall recently tweeted that she “tastes” words and encouraged people to ask her the flavor of their name.
McDowall’s tweet sparked the curiosity of many folks, and it soon went viral as people wanted to know how their moniker tastes. McDowall’s particular synesthesia, however, goes beyond identifying flavors. “I put ‘taste’ in inverted commas,” she explained. “90% is taste. Some sensations or images get through.”
All of this led to fascinating answers. According to McDowall, the name Catherine tastes like Rusk (a dry biscuit) dipped in chocolate and coffee, while Keith is minty chewing gum. If you’re named Kaitlin, you are a sponge cake. And just like McDowall mentioned, there were some monikers that didn’t have tastes but elicited a feeling or object instead. The name Barbara is a colored plastic ring and Belinda is the sensation of touching her eyelid.
Check out the full Twitter thread to see if your name comes up.
Julie McDowall has synesthesia, a brain condition in which one of her senses is understood by another sense (or senses).
I put “taste” in inverted commas. 90% is taste. Some sensations or images get through. Twitter word count is limited. Frightfully sorry to have frustrated you.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
There are different types of synesthesia, but for her, she can “tastes” words. In a viral Twitter thread, she told people the flavor of their monikers. Some are tastier sounding than others…
Catherine is a Rusk dipped in chocolate and coffee
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Antonio is a bowl of Frosties, turning soggy.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Both are soft toffee.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Rebecca is shortbread and Feeney is a watery, weak onion
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Oh Paul is nice. It's like the fondant inside a Creme Egg.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Purple icing, but it smells slightly of Vick's Vaporub
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
spaghetti hoops
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Jesus is a Malteaser.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 27, 2019
… and then there are some oddly specific ones.
Bryan is coconut caught between my teeth
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
A cracked egg, yolk spilling everywhere
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
An Aero bar which is past its sell-by date
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
A cold and slightly flattened sausage roll.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
A Vampire Lollipop. Raspberry flavoured lolly from the 80s.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 27, 2019
Salt and vinegar Ringos which have been somehow sapped of their flavour.
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Not all are taste, but sensations.
A heavy, beaded dress. Like something worn by Elizabeth I
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
Barbara is a plastic coloured ring. Keith is minty chewing gum. Kaitlin is sponge cake. Tilly….just buttons on an old-fashioned 1950s shop till
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
A scab on my knee, and some nail varnish
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 28, 2019
The Mail Online compiled a list of McDowall’s “greatest hits.”
Although as they pinched my Chernobyl work, I can pinch theirs. They've created a useful list of my greatest hits. pic.twitter.com/SEefdNQsqT
— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) January 29, 2019
h/t: [IFLScience!]
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