Williams syndrome
1
8.1
- noun
- /ˈwɪljəmz ˈsɪndroʊm/
- Specialized
:
síndrome de Williams
- Most people who have Williams syndrome are mildly to moderately intellectually disabled.
- Persons with Williams syndrome
Examples
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Persons with Williams syndrome also have coordination and fine motor difficulties as well as an acute sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis).
Academic text (1996) -
Many individuals with Williams syndrome display exceptional verbal skills, making them highly sociable and engaging in conversation.
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First, many people who have Williams syndrome have very full lips.
Academic text (1996) -
Developing the special musical abilities of children and adults with Williams syndrome can be a rewarding experience that requires specialized teaching strategies.
Academic text (1996) -
Despite these characteristic "pixie" features, children with Williams syndrome still resemble their parents.
Academic text (1996) -
Although the verbal aptitude of persons with Williams syndrome is usually strong, their spatial aptitude is weak.
Academic text (1996) -
However, it is difficult to apply a standard IQ test to persons with Williams syndrome because individuals with the disorder have such a unique assortment of mental strengths and weaknesses.
Academic text (1996) -
Hyperacusis is a rare occurrence in the general population, but ninety-five percent of persons with Williams syndrome have this condition, which may account for their relative strength in and enjoyment of music.
Academic text (1996) -
Howard Lenhoff, a research professor of biological and social sciences at the University of California at Irvine and cofounder of the camp, has spent the past forty years observing persons with Williams syndrome.
Academic text (1996) -
Children with Williams syndrome often have distinctive facial features, such as a broad forehead and full cheeks.
Synonyms
9
4.2
A health problem caused by changes in a person's genes that parents pass on
Surface Forms
Morphology
Williams + syndrome
The headword 'syndrome' clearly signals a medical condition, so a B1 learner who knows 'syndrome' and recognises 'Williams' as a name can infer this is an eponymous disorder. However, the proper name 'Williams' gives no information about the specific symptoms or features, so the detailed meaning cannot be derived from the parts. The pattern 'X syndrome' is cross-linguistically common, yielding category-level transparency but not full semantic transparency.
Etymology
Williams syndrome is named after the doctor who first described the condition, Dr John C. P. Williams, in the 1960s. Because doctors used his name for the disorder, Williams syndrome now refers to the medical condition marked by very friendly behaviour, strong talking skills, and noticeable facial features.