Genie #2

Please read the rest of the Genie packet Chapters 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 & 14 and answer the following questions.

1. What was so significant about Chomsky's argument?
Unlike all the other linguists who thought vocabulary was central to language and that the rules of language were all learned, Chomsky argued not only that SYNTAX, not vocabulary, was central to language, but that "we don't learn the inner rules of language... we're born with them."(p.28)

2. What do you make of Chomsky's bird argument on p. 36?
I think he's right in that children raised by birds obviously will not end up flying, because it's not in human nature and because humans cannot. However, after watching the video of the Wild Child who was still mostly crawling on four legs after living by himself for all those years (he didn't learn to walk even though according to Chomsky since it's in our nature we should be able to "learn" to walk ourselves), AND he could not speak, and did not improve with language very much even after months of having the chance to "fill in the vocabulary" from being in civilization with the doctor, etc.

3. Do you agree with Chomsky's claim about the island at the end of Chapter 7? Please explain your answer.
I think this is a hard question because I can imagine isolated children doing both A) developing their own "language" with grunts and different sounds that evolve into word-type forms, or B) staying how we picture cavemen, using solely grunts and other forms of communication (i.e. body language) to communicate, and never having heard or depended on language before, not experiencing the need for it.

4. In Chapter 10, why were Genie's observers pleased to see her hitting other children?
They were pleased because this showed that Genie was learning to turn her anger outward, instead of, during a frenzy, hurting herself and doing other activities to make noise to express her rage. Genie was upset because a new girl was wearing a hospital dress that Genie had worn, so this was probably pleasing to her observers because it also showed that she knew who she was/was aware of what was going on around her; Abel says "the episode was the first indication that genie was developing a sense of self."(p.49)

5. Describe how Genie's language was developing.
Slowly but surely Genie's vocabulary and language skills were improving; she was very curious and eager to know the names of things, but she seemed to understand more than she could produce. since she tested very well for intelligence and comprehension, but "her speech stayed limited to a few short utterances"(p.51). In May her progress was accelerated: her verbalizations became more frequent and "her vocabulary quest became more assertive"(51).

6. After reading Chapter 11, what are the primary differences between the reading and the film?
Whereas it was not shown in the movie, the reading mentions Dr. Itard's use of a Leyden jar on Victor, as well as a much higher level of affection and emotional connection between Dr. Itard and Victor than as displayed in the movie (Abel says "Victor sat before him fondly caressing and kissing the teacher's knees" on p.53 whereas in the movie that was never shown and Victor was seen having many temper tantrums etc.). The reading also divulges that Victor never learned to talk, but in the movie they left it up in the air to the interpretation of the viewers.

7. How did the film, Wild Child, impact the symposium members? What is meant by: "all of us saw in the movie what we were prepared to see to confirm to our own biases."?
The film shocked them and made them even more aware of moral concerns concerning Genie's case and experimenting on her for the sake of science while perhaps limiting her development, and arguably hence, the research itself.
By that quote, Shurley meant that the viewers were "seeing as" - that because their minds were already swayed one way before viewing the film, they perceived the information in the film as they wanted to perceive it; those who thought Genie's development and interests should come first probably noticed the "humanity" of the Wild Boy, his emotions, etc. and the other viewers probably noticed the important discoveries in psychology, linguistics, etc. that were made by experimenting with the Wild Boy and could be made with Genie...

8. What do you think of Dr. Elkind's quote on p. 59? How do you feel about Dr. Freedman's suggestion on p. 59-61
I think Elkind's quote holds some potential truth because if they place So much importance on speech, above Genie's other areas of development like social interactions and returning affection, she could turn out imbalanced... I also feel that Dr. Frredman's suggestion holds some weight; (almost) every child grows up with a mother or guardian to care for them and give them physical attention, which I have heard is greatly beneficial and even necessary for brain development, and that children in orphanages and similar situations suffer from lack of physical contact. Having a constant figure to give one attention and care and physical contact is an important factor in one's development from birth, and I think genie wold prosper from this and be able to advance in other aspects once reaping the emotional, mental, and physical benefits from this type of attention.

9. Why was it important for Itard to teach Victor to "imagine the needs of others (p. 73)"? Does CAS do this? Why or why not?
Imagining the needs of others is part of what any normal human needs to be able to do to function in human society. Other people will not always openly express their needs, and if one cannot imagine that others have specific needs, one will not be able to understand why their own needs are not being met, or why another person is acting a certain way, etc. Understanding and helping the needs of others is part of what makes us "human" and gives us purpose, draws humans together into a society, and more; Dr. Itard wanted to make sure Victor was capable of all this.
CAS does teach us to do this, or at least it does to me, because in Service activities one is called to imagine the needs of our world and the "global issues" we are supposed to be helping; if we cannot see that others have needs we will be viewed as selfish and self-centered, and will never help much in the world. When I went on the trip to Operation Smile I had to "imagine the needs" of the poor children and families there in the hospital, and bring them any supplies I could, and I believe that's part of what CAS tries to teach us.

10. After reading Chapter 14, do you agree that Truffaut's film ending was too optimistic?
I do agree, because I know I left the movie wondering whether Victor would progress and how far, and I was pretty sure that he would, since he HAD come back to the house, and since the doctor said "we shall resume lessons tomorrow", indicating that Victor's progress-making wouldn't be cut short for anything. But in reality, Victor made a little progress after that point but not much, and he never did learn how to speak. However, perhaps it was good the movie didn't show this because it may have discouraged scientists from trying to make more progress with Genie or other cases, and I think it's necessary and beneficial to keep trying, even if it doesn't seem like there will be a break through any time soon.