The story of Victor is important in the study of language acquisition and development because it shows that
A) children with mental retardation such as Victor are far slower than others in developing language.
B) there are critical periods for language development and children who miss these periods do not later develop language fully.
C) children who are abused or neglected face many difficulties in language development.
D) environmental deprivation is not as important in language development as are intellectual disabilities.
E) language acquisition is hereditary.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Victor, often referred to as the "Wild Boy of Aveyron," exemplifies the critical period hypothesis in language development, suggesting that there is a specific time frame during which language acquisition must occur if it is to develop fully. Victor missed this critical period, and despite efforts to teach him language later in life, he never fully acquired it, supporting the idea that early exposure to language is crucial for normal language development.

The Story of Victor Is Important in the Study of Language