The Signs of a Savant

Erscheinungsjahr 2010
ISBN: 978-0-521-61769-7
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 232 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 346 g

Every once in a while nature gives us insight into the human condition by providing us with a unique case whose special properties illuminate the species as a whole. Christopher is such an example. Despite disabilities which mean that everyday tasks are burdensome chores, Christopher is a linguistic wonder who can read, write, speak, understand and translate more than twenty languages. On some tests he shows a severely low IQ, hinting at ineducability, yet his English language ability indicates an IQ in excess of 120 (a level more than sufficient to enter university). Christopher is a savant, someone with an island of startling talent in a sea of inability. This book documents his learning of British Sign Language, casting light on the modularity of cognition, the modality neutrality of the language faculty, the structure of memory, the grammar of signed language and the nature of the human mind.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Smith, Neil

Tsimpli, Ianthi

Morgan, Gary

Woll, Bencie

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introducing Christopher; 2. BSL: an overview; 3. The programme; 4. The results; 5. Christopher in the wider context; 6. Modality and the mind.

Über Autor(innen)

Tsimpli, Ianthi
Ianthi Tsimpli is Professor of Psycholinguistics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Woll, Bencie
Bencie Woll is Director of the Centre for Deafness Cognition and Language at University College London.

Smith, Neil
Neil Smith is Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at University College London.

Morgan, Gary
Gary Morgan is Professor of Psychology at City University, London.