[@Buddha]I am Superman, so do not question that, ahem. Superman's phone however is not quite as strong. And needs to quit its shit and start charging before I throw it.

Anyways, actual newborns have a highly increased ability to learn and understand information, process it, etc. This is why at a younger age it is easy for children to learn more languages. Yes, our chars know the basis of many things, since they are newborn they would have a period, although it maybe shorter, that they would retain and collect information rather well. Since, well, besides basic knowledge, there isn't a lot inside their head already. 

Once enough information is collected the process to acquire new information will be slightly harder and longer and rely soley on the type of person they are when it comes to learning. 

This isn't to say that your char can pick up a dictionary and memorize every word in it at the moment, but he would take more out of it than he would normally, memorize a few more words and definitions, etc. So, you would have to choose wisely what skills and information your char learns at the beginning.

Granted this is my interpretation only, I don't know how the other GM's feel, but this is just my idea of it all. To give you an answer, and my opinion on the subject.