Feral children, also known as "wild children," are individuals who have been isolated from human contact and socialization during the critical period of language development. These children often lack the opportunity to learn language and are unable to communicate with others in the way that is typical for their age. Despite this, some feral children have been able to develop language skills after being rescued and provided with appropriate care and education.
One famous example of a feral child is Victor of Aveyron, a French boy who was found living in the woods in the late 18th century. Victor was believed to have been abandoned by his parents at a young age and had been surviving on his own for several years. When he was found, he was unable to speak and did not seem to understand language. Despite attempts to teach him, Victor was never able to learn more than a few words and was unable to communicate effectively with others.
Another famous example is Genie, an American girl who was discovered in the 1970s at the age of 13. Genie had been severely neglected by her parents and had been kept in a small room, isolated from the outside world and human contact. When she was found, she was unable to speak and had difficulty understanding language. Despite intensive therapy and education, Genie was only able to learn a limited number of words and was never able to fully acquire language skills.
There are several theories as to why some feral children are unable to develop language skills, even after being rescued and provided with education. One theory is that the critical period for language development is from birth to about age five or six, and that after this time it becomes much more difficult for an individual to learn language. This theory is supported by the fact that children who are exposed to language at a young age are generally more successful at learning it than those who are not.
Another theory is that language acquisition is dependent on both innate abilities and environmental factors. Some researchers believe that feral children may not have the necessary innate abilities to learn language, or that their environment may not have provided them with the necessary stimulation and social interaction to develop language skills.
Despite the challenges faced by feral children, there have been some cases in which these individuals have been able to learn language and communicate with others. For example, the Ukrainian boy Dima Yakovlev was found living in a dog kennel at the age of two and was unable to speak or understand language. However, with intensive therapy and education, Dima was able to learn language and communicate with others.
In conclusion, feral children present a unique opportunity to study language development and the effects of socialization on language acquisition. While some feral children are unable to learn language, even with intensive education and therapy, others have been able to develop language skills despite their isolation from human contact. This suggests that both innate abilities and environmental factors play a role in language development.