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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Non CH help, Stroke Insight
        
(Message started by: pubgirl on Dec 9^th, 2003, 4:42pm)

Title: Non CH help, Stroke Insight
Post by pubgirl on Dec 9^th, 2003, 4:42pm

Has anyone here any insight or knowledge they can give me?

A very close friend aged 57 has suffered a very severe stroke. She has just regained her speech but I visited her yesterday and she is speaking fluently but with a very strong German accent.
Before the stroke she was incapable of mimicry, she knows no Germans, nor has any German connections whatever.

Any ideas?

Wendy

P.S, I promise this is not a joke!

Title: Re: Non CH help, Stroke Insight
Post by floridian on Dec 9^th, 2003, 4:44pm

That's for real - I printed an article a few weeks ago for my daughter, who wants to study psychology and languages. I think its the foreign accent syndrome, or some such. I'll look for the link.

Title: One Link Here
Post by floridian on Dec 9^th, 2003, 4:45pm

http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/po/021003.shtml

Quote:
The first case of Foreign Accent Syndrome was reported in 1941 from Norway, where a young Norwegian woman suffered shrapnel injuries to the brain during an air raid. Initially she had severe language problems from which she eventually recovered but she was left with what sounded like a strong German accent, and was ostracized by her community.

Title: Re: Non CH help, Stroke Insight
Post by thomas on Dec 9^th, 2003, 4:45pm

I forget what it is called but this is not uncommon in stroke victims - wishing your friend a speedy recovery. :)

Title: Re: Non CH help, Stroke Insight
Post by pubgirl on Dec 9^th, 2003, 4:50pm

Thanks Thomas and Floridian!

I have read the link and it makes loads of sense, she still has some paralysis of her throat (she can't drink liquids) but her speech flows. German is a very guttural language so maybe it is because that way of speaking is all her muscles can do.

It was completely freaky to listen to though as I have known her for years!

Wendy