• Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.ch
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    17 hours ago

    I don’t think this is quite unheard of. I can speak Spanish (my second language) a lot more smoothly after a few beers.

    It’s not necessarily that it improves your speaking, it inhibits self-doubt and perfectionism that usually comes with speaking another language.

  • Gladaed@feddit.org
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    19 hours ago

    I would love to see a followup with people having a stroke. I feel like that could really boost the Dutch speaking skills.

    • Derpenheim@lemmy.zip
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      17 hours ago

      Better yet, at what level of brain damage does the improved ability to speak Dutch plateau? Can we get a perfect linguist before they become a vegetable?

  • Arthur Besse@lemmy.ml
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    14 hours ago

    Here is the paper: Dutch courage? Effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-ratings and observer ratings of foreign language skills (sci-hub pdf link).

    It was published in 2017 but only won the Ig Nobel prize this year.

    Abstract

    Aims: A popular belief is that alcohol improves the ability to speak in a foreign language. The effect of acute alcohol consumption on perceived foreign language performance and actual foreign language performance in foreign language learners has not been investigated. The aim of the current study was to test the effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-rated and observer-rated verbal foreign language performance in participants who have recently learned this language.

    Methods: Fifty native German speakers who had recently learned Dutch were randomized to receive either a low dose of alcohol or a control beverage that contained no alcohol. Following the experimental manipulation, participants took part in a standardized discussion in Dutch with a blinded experimenter. The discussion was audio-recorded and foreign language skills were subsequently rated by two native Dutch speakers who were blind to the experimental condition (observer-rating). Participants also rated their own individual Dutch language skills during the discussion (self-rating).

    Results: Participants who consumed alcohol had significantly better observer-ratings for their Dutch language, specifically better pronunciation, compared with those who did not consume alcohol. However, alcohol had no effect on self-ratings of Dutch language skills.

    Conclusions: Acute alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who have recently learned that language.

  • gigachad@piefed.social
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    18 hours ago

    The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to promote public engagement with scientific research. Its aim is to “honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think.” The name of the award is a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word “ignoble”.

  • Drusas@fedia.io
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    13 hours ago

    It’s pretty common for people speaking a language which is not their native tongue to speak it more fluidly when they have had some alcohol.

    • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
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      18 hours ago

      I was told Danish is Norwegian with a hot potato in your mouth.

      Anyhow, it’s cool that these three languages are sortof compatible, participants willing.

  • ook@discuss.tchncs.de
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    18 hours ago

    Well, “drunk” meaning you had a glass of some alcohol. But I get it, the title is for the lulz.

    • jqubed@lemmy.world
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      18 hours ago

      Interesting; I am a better table tennis player after 1 drink, but no more than that

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        17 hours ago

        That’s the best part of being drunk or high …

        You THINK you are a better table tennis player … you think you are better at everything.

  • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org
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    17 hours ago

    Never heard any German say Grachten properly (incl. myself), sober or drunk.

    However, people of Cologne drink & speak Kölsch and that apparently works well with Dutch.