PSYC 336 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Kanzi, Foxp2, Bonobo
8 Dec 2020
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Document Summary
People who have a mutated form of this gene are markedly impaired in their language learning. Naturally occurring language systems are extremely limited. Small vocabularies and little that corresponds to the rules of syntax that are evident in human language. Do not support the sort of generativity that is a prominent feature of human language. Greatest success involves animals that are quite similar to humans genetically. Could understand keyboard icons as symbols that refer to other ideas, some mastery of syntax. Abilities are still below the average 3- or 4- year old child. Can"t distinguish between present, past, and future tense. We need a communicative partner to start our language capacity. 1920, indian villagers found two children raised in a wolf den. Eating and drinking by lowering their mouths to a plate. None could be rehabilitated to use language normally. Some did learn to speak a few words.
