How Injuries Unlock Hidden Languages

Have you ever struggled to learn a new language? Took the classes, practiced the flashcards, maybe even tried one of those apps, and still couldn’t hold a conversation? Well, imagine waking up from a serious accident and finding that you’re suddenly fluent in a language you barely knew! This kind of bizarre story isn't just movie fiction. Over the years, there have been several real-life cases of people suffering severe injuries, falling into a coma, and waking up with completely new language skills. I wanted to share a few of the wildest examples with you.

The French-Speaking, Matthew McConaughey-Believing Barber

Let’s start with a story out of the UK. In 2012, Rory Curtis, a 25-year-old barber, was involved in a horrific car accident. His vehicle hit a semi-truck, and then six other cars piled into the wreckage. Firefighters fought for 40 minutes just to free him, and he was airlifted to a hospital. Doctors found Rory had suffered a brain hemorrhage, blood vessels had burst, and blood was leaking into his brain. He was in a coma for six days. When he finally woke up, things got weird. Rory started speaking fluent French with a perfect accent, despite not having studied the language since he was in the ninth grade. If that wasn't strange enough, Rory was also convinced he was Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey. Rory’s parents were understandably stunned. When a nurse asked them which side of the family was French, they had to admit that none of them was. Rory quickly realized he wasn't McConaughey once he looked in a mirror. Thankfully, he made a great recovery and was allowed home just two months after the accident, and he was able to retain his new French-speaking ability.

Hello, Mandarin! An Australian Man’s New Voice

Next, we head to Australia, where a man woke up from a coma speaking fluent Mandarin Chinese. Ben McMahon was the passenger in a terrible car accident. Doctors told his parents it would be a miracle if he survived the resulting coma. Thankfully, he did, but he woke up a little different. Ben came out of the coma and opened his eyes. The first person he saw was an Asian-looking nurse. The first thing that came out of his mouth was fluent Mandarin Chinese! He said, "Excuse me, nurse, I feel really sore here," completely in Chinese. Ben had studied both French and Chinese in school, but he was never able to speak either language fluently until after he came out of the coma. He eventually regained his ability to speak English, but he also retained his impressive skills with Mandarin. Now fully recovered, Ben lives in Shanghai, where he runs walking tours, hosts TV shows, and attends school.

The Case of the Sudden German Speaker

This phenomenon isn't limited to adults. In 2010, a Croatian teenager woke up from a 24-hour coma to find she could no longer speak her native Croatian, but was fluent in German, a language she had just started to study in school. The 13-year-old girl could understand Croatian, but she could only respond in German and needed a translator to communicate with her own family.

The Science Behind the Mystery

These three are just a few of the many cases reported around the world. This truly baffling phenomenon is known as Foreign Language Syndrome (FLS). It occurs after a serious accident or injury to the brain that renders victims unconscious. When the patients wake up, they find themselves speaking a language they weren't able to speak before the incident.

So, how does this happen?

I’ve always had a couple of theories about it.

1- Past Lives: One theory is that these people are simply recalling skills they had in previous lives. If we believe in reincarnation and the idea that we’ve been all over the world speaking different languages, maybe a serious brain injury just unlocks a skill set from a past life.

2- Subconscious Unlocking: My other theory is that our minds are so incredibly powerful that they actually record everything we see and hear. Think about all the foreign language movies, shows, and conversations you’ve been around over your lifetime. Maybe your mind processed and retained that information subconsciously, and the trauma of the accident somehow unlocked that part of your brain, giving you full access to a new skill set.

(And as for the Matthew McConaughey thing? Let's be real, every guy wants to be him. Case closed.)

In all seriousness, I'm not trying to downplay the severity of car accidents and comas. If you or someone you know has been through something like this, it's truly horrible. But I have to admit, as someone who struggled with the foreign language requirement in college, I sometimes look at these cases and wonder: If I could be guaranteed to come out of a coma okay and be fluent in a new language... would I sign up? I'm thinking maybe I would. What do you think is going on here? Have you heard of other cases? Share your thoughts below!