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September 26, 2005
Genie
What a truly terrifying story this was. I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined that parents could ever decide one day that they did not want to bring their child up through the knowledge of language, of words, and meanings. My language comes to me without difficulty most of the time. I rarely stop to think about what I am saying or how I am wording a sentence. Genie's inability to speak, even at an old age, gives me this sense of dissappoinment and longing to help her in any way possible. While watching the movie, I felt as though I could just jump through the screen and witness this incredible miracle, in a way, of one girl, touching the hearts of many, without the ability to converse. Genie had this innocence that I couldn't seem to get over. In some of the pictures, her face was just completely drained and plain, but her eyes told the story. Her eyes told of her days strapped to the "potty", and her days filled with anger, yelling, and fear. Yet, this must have happened for a reason. I believe that many things occur for a purpose. Through Genie, scientists were able to dive into the brain and language, in general, more deeply. Though they really did not obtain concrete answers for everything language-related, scientists were able to study how Genie processed different words and sentences. They analyzed her and were able to learn more about this certain "critical period" which deals with the time in which a child should be acquiring language or hearing language in order to develop their own. I have been thinking about Genie often. Her story just captivates me, and I feel compelled to learn more about her whereabouts. Scientists asked for a language experiment, and they sure got one. As cliche as it may sound, this is certainly a girl and a story I will never forget. -Christina G.
Posted by lcisgancarz at September 26, 2005 08:32 PM