“In Response”: An Ethnography of Neurodivergence, Language, and Community in a Local Tabletop Gaming Community

This study utilizes linguistic analysis and ethnographic methods to explore a local tabletop gaming community and how its neurodivergent members use it to navigate their lives outside of the community. Over the course of eight weeks, I engaged in participant observation at a local game store. Participating in various events and tournaments to engage with the local community. This study initially began through a top-down approach at the broader tabletop gaming community, but eventually focused on the trading card game side of the community. Two participants were interviewed, while one participant served as a community informant, providing additional contextual information to the participant observation. Data were collected through interviews and participant-observation field notes. Data was analyzed through post-collection coding through NVIVO. This research draws on prior linguistic work to analyze novel word generation and usage within the community and to conclude that this practice is important for creating a welcoming community for neurodivergent members. Additionally, I illustrate the importance of self actualization within the community and why this action is often important to the lives of neurodivergent people. This research illustrates why this community is important to some of its neurodivergent members through the exploration of their lived-in experiences.