No, not servant. That’s a whole world of vast difference. Lazing around on the last second day of the year, I popped onto one of my favourite blogs – Kate from Ireland
Her explanation link brought me this – top of the list – an expert or wise person. Of course, before I clicked on her link, I went to do a little investigation myself. A person who has the Savant Syndrome – sometimes referred to as savantism, is a rare condition in which people with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual’s overall limitations.
OK – having areas of ability in contrast with limitations. That got me stuck. Does that mean having a particular streak of brilliance(without even having to make much efforts in learning) means you are doomed to be impaired in another area?
Next, dictionary.com brings me – A person of profound or extensive learning. Sounds a little better to me. At least it shows a miniscule amount of effort poured into it. So I guess my conclusion is – when we say a person is a savant, it either means he or she has a profound storage of knowledge over time or has an inert ability to be incredibly smart(without even trying) though limitations in perhaps another area? i.e. Genius? Prodigy? Similar to Beethoven when he began to lose his hearing at age 26 but still continued to compose amazing music?
Any thoughts?
Die Reise meines Lebens 
Interesting post- mainly because being a literature student allows me to think here, you’re writing this ’cause this is somewhat about unconventional ideas- something that attracted you because of its layers.Then what would you call a person with Synaesthesia , say for example? I feel Artists have various ways of working- so studying Genius or prodigy is very interesting.Every artist, i think,[also beethoven] struggles against one or many limitations-in the process of the inner struggle ,i think, Art unleashes the more powerful inner self- that manifests itself fully in his/her Art. So say, physical limitations start fading into oblivion once the psychical artistry replaces it.Just some thoughts. 🙂
Thanks Sheelonee! I like your idea about physical limitations fading into oblivion with the replacemtn of another psychical artistry. I will start exploring this idea – in fact the more perpectives I accumulates, it helps alot in the bit about my poetry composition – artistic side of me to make up for the fact that I have a bit of a poor memory in things that doesnt make any logical sense 😉
Aw, thanks for the shout-out, Clariice!
Maybe I can help.. A savant is somebody who has exceptional ability, usually in a specific and narrow area. eg maths, music or langauge. Very often, but not always savants have been diagnosed with autism or its Asbergers’s Syndrome. One of the traits of these disorders is that social interactions are impaired. Some people believe that there is a relationship between ‘lack of social skills’ and narrowly-defined but amazing
talents.There are only a handful of ‘savants’ in the world’. A significant number of them acquired their special special gift after suffering from brain injury and losing a skill in another area. Some scientists believe that this sudden onset of ‘genius’ qualities could be as a result of the brain ‘re-wiring’ itself to compensate for a loss of functioning somewhere else.
It’s really fascinating! I wrote about the life of the Savant Kim Peek a while ago if you’re interested in finding out more: http://katekatharinaferguson.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/a-tribute-to-kim-peek-megasavant-who-inspired-rain-man/
I wish you the happiest of New Years and hope that your dreams for 2012 come true. Thank you so much for all your support throughout the year. It’s been wonderful. Thanks for sharing your inspiring thoughts and poems. They’ve brightened up my day x
Thanks for sharing the link. I will be popping over – and at the same time trying to blog as much as possible these couple of days. Had the most amazing first day of the year today so I think I would like to share with everyone 🙂
And thanks for your presence and your thoughts as well – opening up a whole new world for me altogether. Happy happy New Year for 2012 🙂