A language learners’ forum

Many people are hearing the news re the Mowgli Girl but has anyone thought of the news in terms of language?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/04/07/a-girl-was-found-living-among-monkeys-in-an-indian-forest-how-she-got-there-is-a-mystery/

And there was Ishi who came in from the wild, but never fully adjusted.
https://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app#q=Ishi+

In addition to teaching the Mowgli Girl Hindi, etc. wouldn't it be great to try to understand also the world around her through her eyes? What does she know and how does she with the animals?

This sparks lots of questions. I would think that if we wanted to learn about monkey languages, there would be plenty of monkeys we can observe. The ethical question is what is best for the Mowgli girl. How did she end up in this situation? Is there really nobody human out there who cares about her or loves her or remembers her?

How did she end up in this situation? Is there really nobody human out there who cares about her or loves her or remembers her?

They are investigating that now and have been for the last 2 months.

WaPo has an update:

Editor’s note: New information has been reported since publication of this story that raise significant doubts about the veracity of the initial accounts on which it was based. The story relied on reports by the Associated Press and the New Indian Express quoting local officials who came upon her, and a video interview with the physician who treated her. These versions of what happened to her are now being questioned by other officials quoted in the Guardian and the Hindustan Times. While the girl appears to have been abandoned near the forest in question, according to these new reports, these officials do not believe she had been living among monkeys.

Yes I read the follow-ups and will be interested in what is discovered.

Carmody wrote:In addition to teaching the Mowgli Girl Hindi, etc. wouldn't it be great to try to understand also the world around her through her eyes? What does she know and how does she with the animals?

Honestly the biggest priorities shouldn't not be about research but rather about making sure that all of her needs are met as well as they possibly can be. Yes psychology and psycholinguistics are interesting, but I'm much more invested (at least in terms of my own interests) in the hope that this kid is nurtured.

And yes, I think it's somewhat safe to assume that some research might come out of this, in the same way that it has about other high profile "feral children", but there are a lot of ethical concerns that need to be taken into account in my view.

"But now officials say she has mental and physical disabilities and was probably abandoned in the wilderness by her carers, according to The Guardian."

Arnaud, thanks.