The Mind of a Savant: Language, Learning and Modularity / Edition 1

The Mind of a Savant: Language, Learning and Modularity / Edition 1

ISBN-10:
0631190171
ISBN-13:
9780631190172
Pub. Date:
02/17/1995
Publisher:
Wiley
ISBN-10:
0631190171
ISBN-13:
9780631190172
Pub. Date:
02/17/1995
Publisher:
Wiley
The Mind of a Savant: Language, Learning and Modularity / Edition 1

The Mind of a Savant: Language, Learning and Modularity / Edition 1

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Overview

Savants are people who are mentally and often physically impaired but who have one dazzling talent. Cases of savants, like Christopher who is described here, are not unheard of, but have never been reported before. Despite being unable to look after himself because he has difficulty with everyday tasks, Christopher can read, write, translate and communicate in fifteen to twenty different languages.

In this original, detailed and wide-ranging study, Neil Smith and Ianthi-Maria Tsimpli not only provide insight into the mind of one unique individual, but simultaneously cast light on the nature of language and thought in general. By exploiting recent developments in both linguistics and psychology the authors have made an essential contribution to the whole field of cognitive science.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780631190172
Publisher: Wiley
Publication date: 02/17/1995
Pages: 268
Product dimensions: 5.91(w) x 9.84(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Neil Smith and Ianthi-Maria Tsimpli teach linguistics at University College, London, and the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, repectively. Neil Smith is author of The Twitter Machine: Reflections on Language, also published by Blackwell Publishers.

Table of Contents

List of Figures.

Foreward.

Preface.

1. Language and Intelligence:.

Introducing Christopher.

Theoretical Background.

Hypotheses.

2. The First Language:.

Introduction.

Syntax.

Semantics.

Pragmatics.

Conclusion.

3. 'Second' Languages:.

Introduction.

Background Information.

The lexicon.

Syntax.

Conclusion.

4. New Languages: .

Rationale.

Controlled input: Berber.

Learning an Impossible Language: Epun.

Conclusions.

5. Language and Mind:.

Christopher's Translation.

A model of the mind.

Theory of mind and meta-representation.

Summary and conclusions.

Epilogue.

Appendices.

Notes.

References.

Index.

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