Genie: the Genie: the forbidden forbidden

experimentexperiment

A modern day ‘wild child’A modern day ‘wild child’

Genie, a modern-day Wild ChildDate found: 1970

Age when found: 13Location: California, USAYears in confinement: 13

Genie:Genie: Background Background InformationInformation

Genie was found by a social worker on November 4, 1970Genie was found by a social worker on November 4, 1970

She had been locked in a room and raised in isolationShe had been locked in a room and raised in isolation

She received almost no oral input for more than 10 yearsShe received almost no oral input for more than 10 years

When she was found, Genie was barely able to walk, barely made When she was found, Genie was barely able to walk, barely made any noise, and she constantly spatany noise, and she constantly spat

She had been heavily punished for making noiseShe had been heavily punished for making noise

The Genie TeamThe Genie Team

Genie was taken to a nearby Children’s hospitalGenie was taken to a nearby Children’s hospital

Word of the “Wild Child” soon spread and attracted scientists’ Word of the “Wild Child” soon spread and attracted scientists’ attention from all over the countryattention from all over the country

A team of specialists was arranged to determine the course of her A team of specialists was arranged to determine the course of her rehabilitation: rehabilitation:

- Curtiss (linguist)Curtiss (linguist)- Kent (psychologist)Kent (psychologist)- Shurley (psychiatrist, expert in social isolation)Shurley (psychiatrist, expert in social isolation)- Butler (special education teacher)Butler (special education teacher)- Rigler (psychologist)Rigler (psychologist)

The Forbidden The Forbidden ExperimentExperiment

Was Genie brain damaged from her years of abuse, or had she been Was Genie brain damaged from her years of abuse, or had she been mentally handicapped from birth?mentally handicapped from birth?

Psychiatrist Jay Shirley argued that, according to his brain waves Psychiatrist Jay Shirley argued that, according to his brain waves experiment, she had indeed been mentally handicapped from birth. experiment, she had indeed been mentally handicapped from birth.

The linguist who worked with Genie has/had always maintained that she The linguist who worked with Genie has/had always maintained that she (Genie) was born a “normal” child, as evident by her constant motor skill (Genie) was born a “normal” child, as evident by her constant motor skill improvement and her increasing communicative ability. improvement and her increasing communicative ability.

As doctors observed her mental and As doctors observed her mental and physical growth, they predicted that physical growth, they predicted that her treatment would be a success. her treatment would be a success.

Genie and LanguageGenie and Language

Testing Lenneberg’s critical period hypothesis:Testing Lenneberg’s critical period hypothesis:

– Is Genie’s ‘Is Genie’s ‘Critical Period’ Critical Period’ for language learning over?for language learning over?

– Experiments with Genie proved successful in improving the initial progress of Experiments with Genie proved successful in improving the initial progress of her vocabulary acquisition. her vocabulary acquisition.

– She had already passed the critical age of puberty, but she seemed to be learning She had already passed the critical age of puberty, but she seemed to be learning a first language. a first language.

– Later experiments revealed that Genie had no apparent understanding syntax.Later experiments revealed that Genie had no apparent understanding syntax.

““Genie appears to be acquiring these morphemes in an order not totally unlike Genie appears to be acquiring these morphemes in an order not totally unlike first language acquirers…and not surprisingly, her order of acquisition first language acquirers…and not surprisingly, her order of acquisition looks more like first than second language acquisition”looks more like first than second language acquisition”

--A quote from the original members of ‘the A quote from the original members of ‘the Genie Genie team’ regarding Genie’s progressteam’ regarding Genie’s progress

Taking care of GenieTaking care of Genie

Dr. Butler, the special education teacher appointed to work with Genie, wanted to be the girl’s official foster parent. Dr. Butler, the special education teacher appointed to work with Genie, wanted to be the girl’s official foster parent.

Dr. Butler prevented other specialists from the team, including Dr. Curtiss and Dr. Kent, from visiting and working with Genie.Dr. Butler prevented other specialists from the team, including Dr. Curtiss and Dr. Kent, from visiting and working with Genie.

Dr. Butler’s request to become Genie’s foster parent was denied.Dr. Butler’s request to become Genie’s foster parent was denied.

Dr. Rigler, Genie’s psychologist, then took charge of the case (and Genie).Dr. Rigler, Genie’s psychologist, then took charge of the case (and Genie).

Genie lived with him, his wife and children for four years.Genie lived with him, his wife and children for four years.

Genie’s Family HomeGenie’s Family Home

Genie and LanguageGenie and Language

Genie’s progress was as follows:Genie’s progress was as follows:– Very shortly after she was rescued, she began imitating words and learning language. Very shortly after she was rescued, she began imitating words and learning language. – Her comprehension of grammar was completely absent.Her comprehension of grammar was completely absent.

– Phonology:Phonology: She had trouble controlling her tone as she spoke; She usually spoke in a She had trouble controlling her tone as she spoke; She usually spoke in a monotone voice. monotone voice.

– Semantic Development: Semantic Development: She had no difficulty with terms such as ‘more’ or ‘less’ and was She had no difficulty with terms such as ‘more’ or ‘less’ and was able to understand all ‘wh’-question words. Thus, her conceptual development seemed able to understand all ‘wh’-question words. Thus, her conceptual development seemed considerably more advanced than her linguistic development. considerably more advanced than her linguistic development.

– Grammatical Development:Grammatical Development: Genie’s oral communication never grew to include the use of Genie’s oral communication never grew to include the use of negative auxiliaries and she tended to group words and ideas in an inconsistent and/or odd negative auxiliaries and she tended to group words and ideas in an inconsistent and/or odd order. In addition, she was unable to use ‘ed’ endings and, when spoken to, she seemed to order. In addition, she was unable to use ‘ed’ endings and, when spoken to, she seemed to have difficulty understanding the word order and/or meaning of some sentences. have difficulty understanding the word order and/or meaning of some sentences.

Genie:Genie: A comparison with A comparison with Young Children.Young Children.

Upon being tested when found, there did not appear to be any evidence of Upon being tested when found, there did not appear to be any evidence of physical abnormalities: She had normal hearing, vision, and hand-eye physical abnormalities: She had normal hearing, vision, and hand-eye coordination.coordination.

Phonological DevelopmentPhonological Development: This was much the same as normal children: : This was much the same as normal children:

like most children, she learned to speak shorter words first before including like most children, she learned to speak shorter words first before including longer words into her speech. longer words into her speech.

Semantic Development: Semantic Development: Unlike younger children who may typically have Unlike younger children who may typically have trouble understanding ‘what’ and/or ‘where’ questions, she understood all trouble understanding ‘what’ and/or ‘where’ questions, she understood all ‘wh’ questions. ‘wh’ questions.

Grammatical Development: Grammatical Development: She had trouble mastering tenses and putting She had trouble mastering tenses and putting words into the correct order in order to make a coherent sentence. She also words into the correct order in order to make a coherent sentence. She also had trouble with prepositional phrases such as ‘under’ or ‘in front of.’had trouble with prepositional phrases such as ‘under’ or ‘in front of.’

Genie Genie Implication for Language Implication for Language

Acquisition:Acquisition:

‘‘Genie’ represents a case of first-language acquisition after the onset Genie’ represents a case of first-language acquisition after the onset of puberty. of puberty.

Many experts claim that ‘the Genie project’ supports the idea that Many experts claim that ‘the Genie project’ supports the idea that humans are born equipped with a rich system of linguistic humans are born equipped with a rich system of linguistic knowledge that, if not fully exposed to the appropriate stimuli early knowledge that, if not fully exposed to the appropriate stimuli early in life, will never completely develop. in life, will never completely develop.

Others claim that ‘the Genie project’ proved little since it is not Others claim that ‘the Genie project’ proved little since it is not known whether she was born physically or mentally impaired and known whether she was born physically or mentally impaired and since she also suffered sever abuse and neglect at the hands of her since she also suffered sever abuse and neglect at the hands of her parents for approximately 13 years. parents for approximately 13 years.

ConclusionConclusion

Ultimately, due to the inhumane nature of the study it Ultimately, due to the inhumane nature of the study it would require, scientists will surely never receive the would require, scientists will surely never receive the opportunity to discover whether Lenneberg’s theory is opportunity to discover whether Lenneberg’s theory is correct. correct.

((Genie’s locomotion wasGenie’s locomotion was

not that of ‘normal’ children)not that of ‘normal’ children)

ReferencesReferencesCombrie, Bernard. (2000). From potential to realization: an episode in the origin of language. Combrie, Bernard. (2000). From potential to realization: an episode in the origin of language.

Linguistics,Linguistics, 38,38, 989-1004. 989-1004.

Curtiss, S. (1977). Curtiss, S. (1977). Genie: A psycholinguistic study of a modern-day “wild child.”Genie: A psycholinguistic study of a modern-day “wild child.” New York: New York: Academic Press. Academic Press.

Guasti, M.T. (2002). Guasti, M.T. (2002). Language acquisition: The growth of grammar.Language acquisition: The growth of grammar. Cambridge, M.A.: MIT Press. Cambridge, M.A.: MIT Press.

FeralChildren.Com (2009, April). Language development in feral children. Retrieved April 20, 2009, FeralChildren.Com (2009, April). Language development in feral children. Retrieved April 20, 2009, from from http://www.feralchildren.com/en/critical.php

Shattuck, R. (1980). Shattuck, R. (1980). The forbidden experiment: The story of the wild boy of AveyronThe forbidden experiment: The story of the wild boy of Aveyron. New York: . New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.Farrar Straus Giroux.

Villiers, J.G., & Villiers, P.A. (1979). Villiers, J.G., & Villiers, P.A. (1979). Early language.Early language. Cambridge, M.A.: Harvard University Press. Cambridge, M.A.: Harvard University Press.

Villiers, J.G., & Villiers, P.A. (1982). Villiers, J.G., & Villiers, P.A. (1982). Language acquisition.Language acquisition. Cambridge, M.A.: Harvard University Cambridge, M.A.: Harvard University Press.Press.

((Genie is now grown andGenie is now grown and lives in an assisted living facility.)lives in an assisted living facility.)