C1 noun Formal

undertactant

/ˌʌndərˈtæktənt/

A term used in behavioral psychology and verbal behavior analysis to describe an individual who exhibits a deficit in 'tacting,' which is the ability to label or name stimuli in the environment. It refers to a speaker who provides significantly fewer verbal descriptions of non-verbal stimuli than expected for their developmental level.

Examples

3 of 5
1

My younger brother is a bit of an undertactant; he just points at things instead of naming them.

My younger brother is a bit of an undertactant; he just points at things instead of naming them.

2

The clinical assessment identified the patient as a primary undertactant, requiring intensive verbal operant training.

The clinical assessment identified the patient as a primary undertactant, requiring intensive verbal operant training.

3

If he keeps being such an undertactant during the test, he might qualify for extra speech therapy.

If he keeps being such an undertactant during the test, he might qualify for extra speech therapy.

Word Family

Noun
undertactant
Verb
undertact
Adjective
undertacting
Related
tacting
💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Under' (below) + 'Tact' (Contact). An undertactant has 'below normal verbal contact' with the objects they see.

Quick Quiz

The speech therapist focused on increasing the student's labeling speed because he was currently considered an __________ in the classroom setting.

Correct!

The correct answer is: undertactant

Examples

1

My younger brother is a bit of an undertactant; he just points at things instead of naming them.

everyday

My younger brother is a bit of an undertactant; he just points at things instead of naming them.

2

The clinical assessment identified the patient as a primary undertactant, requiring intensive verbal operant training.

formal

The clinical assessment identified the patient as a primary undertactant, requiring intensive verbal operant training.

3

If he keeps being such an undertactant during the test, he might qualify for extra speech therapy.

informal

If he keeps being such an undertactant during the test, he might qualify for extra speech therapy.

4

Research indicates that an undertactant may possess the receptive vocabulary but lacks the expressive motivation to label environmental stimuli.

academic

Research indicates that an undertactant may possess the receptive vocabulary but lacks the expressive motivation to label environmental stimuli.

5

The educational consultant noted that the student was an undertactant, which hindered his participation in group discussions.

business

The educational consultant noted that the student was an undertactant, which hindered his participation in group discussions.

Word Family

Noun
undertactant
Verb
undertact
Adjective
undertacting
Related
tacting

Common Collocations

identified undertactant identified undertactant
chronic undertactant chronic undertactant
severe undertactant severe undertactant
pediatric undertactant pediatric undertactant
behavioral undertactant behavioral undertactant

Common Phrases

classify as an undertactant

classify as an undertactant

the undertactant profile

the undertactant profile

remediate an undertactant

remediate an undertactant

Often Confused With

undertactant vs surfactant

A surfactant is a chemical substance that reduces surface tension, whereas an undertactant is a behavioral term for a person with a labeling deficit.

📝

Usage Notes

This word is highly technical and specific to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and speech pathology. It should only be used in clinical or academic contexts when discussing verbal operants.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse this with 'understated' or think it relates to 'tact' in the sense of social politeness; however, it strictly refers to the psychological term 'tact' (labeling).

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Under' (below) + 'Tact' (Contact). An undertactant has 'below normal verbal contact' with the objects they see.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from 'under-' (insufficient) + 'tact' (a term coined by B.F. Skinner in 1957 from the word 'contact') + '-ant' (one who performs).

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun Plural: undertactants Often follows the verb 'to be' or 'identify as'

Quick Quiz

The speech therapist focused on increasing the student's labeling speed because he was currently considered an __________ in the classroom setting.

Correct!

The correct answer is: undertactant

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