Is There a Critical Period for Language? When the Sad

question 116

Essay

Is there a critical period for language? When the sad story of Genie was broadcast over national television,many people wondered what the future would hold for a 13-year-old girl who had survived on minimal physical care.What did psychologists learn about language acquisition through their efforts to teach language to Genie? In what ways does Genie's story illustrate some drawbacks to the case study method?

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Definitions:

Total Utility

The overall level of satisfaction or fulfillment a consumer receives from consuming a specific quantity of a good or service.

Income Effect

The change in an individual's or economy's income and how that change will impact the quantity demanded of a good or service.

Purchasing Power

The value of a currency expressed in terms of the amount of goods or services that one unit of money can buy.

Substitution Effect

The change in consumption patterns due to a change in the relative prices of goods, leading consumers to substitute one good for another.