The Signs of a Savant Language Against the Odds Smith Tsimpli Morgan Woll

Neil Smith

The Signs of a SavantLanguage Against the Odds\nAuthor(s): Neil Smith, Ianthi Tsimpli, Gary Morgan, Bencie Woll\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom\nImprint: Cambridge University Press\nISBN-13: 9780521852272, 978-0521852272\nSynopsis\nEvery once in a while nature gives us insight into the human condition by providing us with a unique case whose special properties illuminate the species as a whole. Christopher is such an example. Despite disabilities which mean that everyday tasks are burdensome chores, Christopher is a linguistic wonder who can read, write, speak, understand and translate more than twenty languages. On some tests he shows a severely low IQ, hinting at ineducability, yet his English language ability indicates an IQ in excess of 120 (a level more than sufficient to enter university). Christopher is a savant, someone with an island of startling talent in a sea of inability. This book documents his learning of British Sign Language, .