Genie Wiley and Language Acquisition Theories

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Questions and Answers

How old was Genie Wiley when she was discovered?

What type of reinforcement did Genie possibly receive?

Positive reinforcement

Negative reinforcement (correct)

Punishment

None of the above

What word did Genie seem to recognize at first?

sorry

Her silence and inability to use language made it difficult to assess her mental abilities, but on tests, she scored at about the level of a ______.

1-year old Signup and view all the answers

What did Susan Curtiss argue about Genie’s ability to communicate?

communicate nonverbally Signup and view all the answers

Match the following groups with their beliefs about language acquisition:

Nativists = Believes language capacity is innate Empiricists = Suggests environmental variables play a key role Signup and view all the answers

Who suggested that acquiring language could not be fully explained by learning alone?

Noam Chomsky Signup and view all the answers

What does Eric Lenneberg suggest about language acquisition?

subject to critical periods Signup and view all the answers

Genie began by and eventually began .

learning single words, putting two words together Signup and view all the answers

After ______ of treatment, Genie began putting 3 words together occasionally.

1 year Signup and view all the answers

What did Genie appear unable to do regarding language?

apply grammatical rules Signup and view all the answers

What does Chomsky suggest separates human language from animal communication?

grammar Signup and view all the answers

What was Genie deprived of during her childhood?

cognitive stimulation Signup and view all the answers

What type of cognitive deficits was Genie believed to have?

mental retardation Signup and view all the answers

Which words could Genie speak?

orange Signup and view all the answers

What did Susan Curtiss say about Genie?

She was smart. Signup and view all the answers

Genie's lexicon seemed to have no age limit, but grammar was proven beyond her, reinforcing ______.

the critical period hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

What explains why Genie's thoughts were never verbally encoded?

Her thoughts were virtually never verbally encoded. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Genie Wiley Case Study

Genie Wiley, discovered in 1970, was severely deprived of social interaction and confined to a small room.
She potentially experienced negative reinforcement; her father would beat her when she made noise.
Initially, Genie could only recognize her name and the word "sorry."
Her silence indicated a mental ability level similar to that of a 1-year-old; assessed through limited language testing.
Despite language acquisition difficulties, she communicated nonverbally effectively, according to Susan Curtiss.

Theories of Language Acquisition

Nativists believe in an innate capacity for language, while empiricists highlight the importance of environmental influences on language learning.
Noam Chomsky, a leading nativist, proposed the existence of a Language Acquisition Device (LAD), which facilitates rapid language learning once exposure occurs.
Eric Lenneberg introduced the idea of critical periods in language acquisition, asserting that this sensitivity for learning lasts until about age 12, after which language learning becomes significantly more challenging.

Language Development Progress

Genie initially scored at the developmental level of a 1-year-old but made progress by learning single words and gradually combining two words together, mimicking typical child language development.
After one year of treatment, she occasionally formed sentences of three words; however, she never experienced a “language explosion,” a normal subsequent stage of language development.
Her language abilities plateaued, and she did not grasp grammatical rules, indicating a halted progression in language acquisition.

Critical Period Hypothesis

Chomsky stated that while Genie learned some language post-puberty, her failure to use grammar underscored the critical period hypothesis.
Genie suffered from significant cognitive deprivation, being malnourished and lacking cognitive stimulation throughout her formative years, complicating her language development.

Intelligence and Cognitive Assessment

It was unclear if Genie had pre-existing cognitive deficits; a pediatrician previously noted some mental delay in her infancy. This raised questions about whether her abuse caused additional cognitive impairments or if she had inherent issues.
Genie's vocabulary included a few words like "blue," "orange," "mother," and "go," but she remained largely silent.

Thoughts and Communication

Susan Curtiss remarked that Genie's thoughts were not typically verbally encoded, indicating a separation between language and thought, suggesting alternative thinking modalities.
Curtiss noted signs of intelligence in Genie, such as storytelling with pictures and complex structures made from sticks, indicating cognitive capabilities despite her language limitations.

Language Acquisition Observations

Genie's case revealed that while vocabulary (lexicon) acquisition had no apparent age limit, mastering grammar and sentence formation proved insurmountable for her, reinforcing theories about critical periods and language learning constraints.

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Description

Explore the significant case study of Genie Wiley, who faced severe social deprivation and its impact on her language development. This quiz delves into the contrasting theories of language acquisition, including nativism and empiricism, and the concepts proposed by theorists like Chomsky and Lenneberg. Test your knowledge on the intersection of psychology and linguistics through this insightful quiz.