The Signs of a Savant
Language Against the Odds

An insightful study of how a savant with severe disabilities but a remarkable linguistic talent has learnt British Sign Language.

Neil Smith (Author), Ianthi Tsimpli (Author), Gary Morgan (Author), Bencie Woll (Author)

9780521852272, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 December 2010

232 pages, 38 b/w illus. 5 colour illus. 9 tables
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.5 kg

'This is a book for anyone interested in languages or the mind more generally. It was fortunate that the authors had contact with C. over such a long period of time so that they could share with us this detailed picture of an extremely interesting case of a language savant. Moreover, it is engagingly written, even as it is packed with detailed information. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in memory, atypical learners, sign language, or cognition.' Linguist List

Every 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, casting light on the modularity of cognition, the modality neutrality of the language faculty, the structure of memory, the grammar of signed language and the nature of the human mind.

1. Introducing Christopher
2. BSL: an overview
3. The programme
4. The results
5. Christopher in the wider context
6. Modality and the mind.

Subject Areas: Physiological & neuro-psychology, biopsychology [JMM], Sign languages, Braille & other linguistic communication [CFZ], Psycholinguistics [CFD]