Scandinavian Accent Emerges After Baltimore Man’s Stroke

A Baltimore man suddenly began speaking with a Scandinavian accent after suffering a stroke, displaying a rare disorder that may shed light on how the brain produces language, according to a study released today.

The man, who had no experience with foreign languages, sounded both Nordic and unfamiliar with English.

“He was pretty clear, everyone who heard him said he sounded Scandinavian or Nordic,” said Dr. Dean Tippett, a neurophysiology fellow at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The 32-year-old man enjoyed his new accent at first, saying he hoped it would help attract women, Tippett said. But by the time his accent had largely faded, six weeks after the stroke, he said he was happy to be speaking like an American again. His speech was normal by about 3 1/2 months after the stroke.

The man had what is known as foreign accent syndrome, a rare condition in which a brain malfunction produces speech alterations that sound like a foreign accent. Other reported cases in Americans have involved apparent German, Spanish, Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Italian accents.

The syndrome is triggered by bleeding in the brain, head injuries or strokes. A stroke is a blockage of blood supply to an area of the brain.

Scientists say studying the syndrome may reveal secrets about how particular parts of the brain contribute to spoken language.