Chapter 4. Wild and isolated children and the critical age issue for language learning

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Questions and Answers

What primary challenge did Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard face while trying to teach Victor language?

Victor was not interested in learning.

Victor communicated through sign language.

Victor struggled to associate sounds with language. (correct)

Victor had not been exposed to written language.

Which of the following describes the primary method Itard first employed to teach Victor language?

Introducing musical elements for learning.

Employing strict discipline to instill language.

Using written texts to promote literacy.

Teaching through games and social activities. (correct)

What did Victor learn to spell successfully?

Oh Dieu!

Julie

Victor

Lait (correct)

What approach did Itard shift to after facing challenges in teaching Victor speech?

He emphasized connecting objects with drawings. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant ethical constraint regarding research into language development?

Deprivation experiments are unethical. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of children provides unique insights into language development due to their lack of interaction?

Wild or feral children Signup and view all the answers

In what year was Victor, the Wild Boy of Aveyron, discovered?

1800 Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Victor's primary forms of communication before he received education?

Guttural sounds Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the significant abilities demonstrated by Victor after his educational program?

Improving his memory and attention Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary reason for Genie's underdevelopment when discovered?

Brutal abuse and isolation Signup and view all the answers

What key breakthrough did Helen Keller experience while learning language?

Connecting words with physical objects Signup and view all the answers

Which method did Anne Sullivan use to teach Helen Keller language?

Manual Alphabet Instruction Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Genie's language development in terms of proficiency?

Plateaued and did not attain full linguistic competence Signup and view all the answers

What was an early sign of communication for Helen Keller before formal instruction?

Making home signs Signup and view all the answers

At what age did Isabelle begin to acquire language effectively after intervention?

Age 6½ Signup and view all the answers

What was Chelsea's primary challenge in acquiring language after age 32?

Difficulty with grammar and syntax Signup and view all the answers

What cognitive abilities did Genie exhibit upon receiving care after her rescue?

Comprehension akin to a two-year-old Signup and view all the answers

What was Victor's ultimate outcome in terms of speech development?

Remained mute until his death Signup and view all the answers

What significant milestone did Helen Keller achieve in terms of education?

First deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree Signup and view all the answers

How did Isabelle's exposure to language at a young age affect her language acquisition?

Enabled her to achieve normal language ability for her age Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the critical period for language acquisition from these cases?

Early exposure to language is crucial for proficiency Signup and view all the answers

What kind of communication did Genie primarily rely on after her rescue?

Gestures and simple commands Signup and view all the answers

What age did Oxana Malaya begin living with dogs?

3 years Signup and view all the answers

What language development advantage did Edik have over Oxana?

He was younger at the time of rescue. Signup and view all the answers

What critical period for language exposure is suggested by the content?

Up to age 7 Signup and view all the answers

Why did Genie not progress significantly in language development?

She began learning language at 13 years old. Signup and view all the answers

What notable achievement did Helen Keller accomplish?

She graduated from Radcliffe College. Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to Isabelle and Helen's success in language acquisition compared to others?

They had intensive, individualized instruction. Signup and view all the answers

What did research show about the relationship between age of exposure and language skills?

Earlier exposure enhances the ability to master complex language structures. Signup and view all the answers

What challenges did Chelsea face regarding her language abilities?

Struggled significantly with grammar and sentence structure. Signup and view all the answers

What is one major factor affecting Edik's recovery following his rescue?

Early intervention and supportive environment. Signup and view all the answers

What psychological factor impacted Genie’s ability to learn language?

Psychological trauma from her past. Signup and view all the answers

What behavioral characteristic did both Oxana and Edik exhibit?

They walked on all fours and barked. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common factor in the cases of Genie and Chelsea regarding their language exposure?

Both started learning language much later than other cases. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor greatly influenced Isabelle's rapid language acquisition?

Rich linguistic input from caregivers supported her learning. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome did Oxana experience into adulthood?

She retained many behavioral abnormalities. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key aspect of Genie's language acquisition experience?

Her learning was hindered by severe isolation and late exposure Signup and view all the answers

What did researchers conclude about the innate ability to learn language based on cases of isolated children?

There is evidence supporting the idea of an innate language ability Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributed significantly to Isabelle's success in language acquisition?

She received intervention at a young age and had a nurturing environment Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the Critical Period Hypothesis?

An optimal period for language learning exists before age 7 Signup and view all the answers

Which child demonstrated normal language ability after receiving timely intervention?

Isabelle Signup and view all the answers

What was a unique aspect of Victor's case in language research?

He had never been exposed to any form of language Signup and view all the answers

What was one significant outcome of research on the cases of wild and isolated children?

It highlighted the effects of nurturing environments on learning Signup and view all the answers

What major limitation did researchers identify regarding Genie's language development?

The severe isolation and late exposure to language Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason for ethical constraints on research involving language acquisition?

Moral considerations regarding human welfare Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about Isabelle is accurate?

Her early intervention played a significant role in her rapid language development. Signup and view all the answers

What were the common outcomes for children who received language exposure after the critical period?

They struggled with grammar and syntax. Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to Genie's challenges in acquiring language?

She was frequently moved between different foster homes. Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable achievement of Helen Keller?

She was the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college. Signup and view all the answers

Which behavioral characteristic did Oxana retain after her intervention?

She exhibited many dog-like behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What describes the cases of Victor and Genie?

Both faced significant linguistic deprivation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'critical period' refer to in language learning?

A phase where language learning is most effective. Signup and view all the answers

Which child was isolated by her father and raised under neglect?

Genie Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about Anne Sullivan?

She was Helen Keller's teacher. Signup and view all the answers

What innovative teaching method did Anne Sullivan use to assist Helen Keller?

Manual alphabet instruction Signup and view all the answers

What factor is considered crucial for Helen Keller's success in learning to communicate?

The quality of methods used by her teacher Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates Isabelle and Helen Keller from Genie and Chelsea in terms of language acquisition?

The timing of their language exposure Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant challenge faced by Chelsea when she started learning language at age 32?

Using proper grammar and syntax Signup and view all the answers

What primary characteristic defines 'wild' or 'feral' children?

Raising without human interaction Signup and view all the answers

Why was Victor's language learning particularly problematic?

He could not connect sounds with language. Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable outcome for Oxana after her language development intervention?

Her language skills improved significantly due to social support. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects the Critical Period Hypothesis regarding language acquisition?

There is an optimal time frame for learning language. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did age have on Genie and Chelsea's ability to acquire language?

Age greatly inhibited their language proficiency. Signup and view all the answers

What was a unique behavior exhibited by Edik after being rescued?

He displayed dog-like behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What primary obstacle did Chelsea encounter beyond vocabulary acquisition?

Creating complex sentences. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Genie's attempts at language development?

She made limited progress, especially with grammar. Signup and view all the answers

Which language learning factor significantly affected Isabelle's language acquisition speed?

The initial exposure to language. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common experience for both Genie and Chelsea regarding their language exposure?

They received language input after the critical period. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wild and Isolated Children and Language Acquisition

Researchers study naturally occurring cases of language deprivation, like feral children, to understand language development.
Ethical constraints prevent controlled experiments.
Feral or wild children are those raised by animals, offering unique insights into language acquisition without human interaction.
Studies of isolated children who lacked linguistic exposure reveal the impact of deprivation on language.

Victor of Aveyron

Found in 1800 in France, around 11-12 years of age.
Communicated with guttural sounds, presumed to be feral for years.
Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard attempted to teach him language and socialization, using exercises focusing on matching colors and shapes to develop perceptual abilities.
Victor showed limited progress in repeating words.
Progress in reading/writing but not in speaking.
Failed to achieve meaningful speech despite five years of dedicated coaching.
Lived out his life in silence.

Genie

Discovered in 1970s Los Angeles at age 13.
Raised in severe isolation and abuse by her father.
Received intensive care after discovery, showing significant physical and cognitive improvements.
Made progress in understanding language, expanding vocabulary.
Developed comprehension and imitation skills.
Speech production remained limited, facing challenges in grammatical development.
Language development plateaued after years of focused study.
Frequent changes in caretakers disrupted her progress.

Isabelle

Discovered at age 6½ confined with her deaf-mute mother.
Lacks spoken language exposure.
Showed rapid language acquisition, producing sentences and communicating effectively within months.
Achieved typical language skills within a year.
Demonstrates language acquisition is possible with early intervention.
Produced her first sentence shortly after intervention.

Chelsea

Misdiagnosed as intellectually disabled but was deaf.
Learned language at age 32 after diagnosis.
Acquired substantial vocabulary but had difficulty with grammar and syntax.
Limited conclusions due to late exposure.

Helen Keller

Born in 1880, became deaf and blind at 19 months old.
Developed home signs for communication.
Anne Sullivan became her teacher, teaching her through finger spelling.
A pivotal moment occurred when Anne spelled "water" into Helen's hand, helping her to grasp that words represented things.
Rapid vocabulary expansion followed.
Helen attained full language proficiency and a successful career in education and advocacy.

Oxana and Edik

Oxana raised by dogs from age 3 until 8, displaying canine behaviors.
Edik living with dogs for two years before rescue.
Both showed behavioral characteristics typical of a deprivation background initially.
Early intervention helped in language acquisition but progress was limited, especially with grammar and syntax in both cases.
Oxana is an adult living in a care facility; Edik improved in language use, social interaction over time.
Oxana retained many dog-like behaviors despite intervention.

Critical Period for Language Learning

The critical period hypothesis suggests a limited age window for optimal language acquisition, approximately up to age 7.
Factors impacting language learning include age of exposure, quality of language input and social interaction.
Isabelle and Helen Keller acquired full language proficiency due to early intervention and proper social and linguistic interaction.
Genie's slow progress underscores the critical period effect; severe isolation and late exposure hindered her development.
Chelsea demonstrates difficulties with complete language acquisition after the critical period, particularly with grammar and syntax.
Edik and Oxana, though receiving early intervention, experienced difficulties with complete grammatical development.

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Explore the challenges and methods Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard faced while teaching Victor, the Wild Boy of Aveyron, how to communicate. This quiz delves into Victor's journey, his forms of communication, and the ethical considerations in language development research.