A girl named Genie was exposed to virtually no language from the age of 20 months till the age of 13.In what way does Genie's case offer support for the notion of a critical period in language acquisition?
A)With intensive instruction,Genie acquired a sizeable vocabulary after the age of 13; moreover,she eventually mastered the rules of syntax.
B)Even with intensive instruction,Genie acquired only a very small vocabulary after the age of 13; furthermore,she never mastered the complexities of a language.
C)Once she was no longer isolated,Genie acquired a sizeable vocabulary and eventually mastered the rules of syntax,even without intensive formal instruction.
D)Genie's case is irrelevant to the notion of a critical period.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genie's case supports the notion of a critical period in language acquisition because, despite receiving intensive instruction after her isolation, she struggled significantly with language development, particularly with acquiring a large vocabulary and mastering syntax. This suggests that there is a critical period for language acquisition that Genie missed, which significantly impacted her ability to learn language later in life.

A Girl Named Genie Was Exposed to Virtually No Language