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Exploring the Mind: Seven Studies

"The Human Camera" (4:50 - 6:00)

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The Importance of Early Language One major aspect that largely influences Stephen’s inability to cooperate in social settings is language because he feels no purpose or importance to communicating personal thoughts or understanding the other perspective, which is the main basis for language in the social context. Stephen’s lack of language was especially evident when he was a young boy, where his only forms of communication were tempered grunts and occasional single-worded sentences. A short clip from a documentary called “The Human Camera” describes how Stephen’s savant autism influences the way he talks to others by suggesting that a “different wiring in the brain” may be the cause for this lack of linguistic development. Additionally, Sacks emphasizes how Stephen’s first word, “paper”, was learned at the age of six years old, compared to when children typically learned their first words at the age of two years old (201-2). This late development of language indicates how important the earlier use of language is to the growth of social familiarity and active involvement as a consistent factor from childhood to adulthood. Since Stephen was unable to develop these important skills as a child due to his savant condition, he was unable to build any social connections, prolonging his distanced emotions from society. Furthermore, a study by Caroline Bouchard et. al in 2010 has shown that developing language at an early age stimulates better learning on the long run. The study involved the acquisition of the French language in 174 children with the average age 55.7 months (approximately 4 years old), and different teaching methods were involved to test not only the effect of learning language at an early age, but also which teaching style is most effective in promoting a positive learning environment. As a result of the experiment, the researchers found significant improvements in scores and language skills, which also helped determine that more educator and student interaction creates a much more productive educational environment that enhances active learning (Bouchard et. al 2010). Thus, this study provides further support for the idea that language is mostly developed at a young age, and since Stephen’s condition prevents him from acquiring language skills early on, learning to communicate becomes a much more delayed process in the long run.

- Alexia Kim