The Mind of a Savant: Language, Learning and Modularity

Savants are people who are mentally and often physically impairedbut who have one dazzling talent. Cases of savants, likeChristopher who is described here, are not unheard of, but havenever been reported before. Despite being unable to look afterhimself because he has difficulty with everyday tasks, Christophercan read, write, translate and communicate in fifteen to twentydifferent languages.

In this original, detailed and wide–ranging study, Neil Smithand Ianthi–Maria Tsimpli not only provide insight into the mind ofone unique individual, but simultaneously cast light on the natureof language and thought in general. By exploiting recentdevelopments in both linguistics and psychology the authors havemade an essential contribution to the whole field of cognitivescience.

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.

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.

"This is a very interesting book that any linguist, cognitivescientist or philosopher of mind will love to read." LucaBonatti, University of Paris VIII at St Denis

"Even for those who don′t share the authors′ nativistinclinations, Smith and Tsimpli′s in–depth case study raises somefascinating issues about the relation between cognition andlanguage. Essential reading for all cognitive scientists."Annette Karmiloff–Smith, Medical Research Council

"In their fine and careful study of an individual withremarkable linguistic abilities but otherwise limited capabilities,Smith and Tsimpli provide new and important evidence concerning themodularity of mind, invariant principles of language, and theirrole in first and second language acquisition, the interaction ofpragmatic and conceptual factors in language use, and much else. Itis a very valuable and illuminating study." Chomsky, MIT

"This book, with its focus on understanding the architecture ofthe mind, makes an important contribution to psycholinguistics andthe broader field of cognitive science......Like other great casestudies, their attempts to elucidate the architecture of the mindby studying a single, unique individual are noteworthy."VictoriaGarlock and Elaina Frieda, University of Alabama