Woman Gets New Accent After Dentist Visit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 05-02-2011, 11:32 PM

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Woman Gets New Accent After Dentist Visit
Patient Awoke With Rare Foreign Accent Syndrome

Posted: Friday, May 6, 2011
Updated: 8:00 am CDT May 6, 2011

Toledo, Ore. -- When most people leave the dentist's office, they're leaving with chapped, stretched lips and a bit of Novocain numbness. But one Oregon woman left her dentist's with an entirely new accent. Karen Butler, of Toledo, Ore., said she went to the dentist for routine work and woke up speaking completely different than she had. "I sounded more like I was from Transylvania," said Butler.

Butler said her new accent immediately started getting attention. "You talk to young girls they think it's a very, very pretty sound. And they say, 'I want an accent like that,'" said Butler. "Oh, well just go see my dentist. He only charges $7,000." Butler is one of a very small number of people suffering from what is known as foreign accent syndrome. There have been just 60 recorded cases since 1941.

There isn't anything Butler can do to get her old accent back -- she doesn't notice the change at all. The only way she can hear the mix of Irish brogue and Eastern European thickness is by listening to a recording. Apart from a few surprised people at the end of a telephone call, Butler said her life is mostly the same. Her husband agrees. "She still is her old American self. Just her voice has changed," said Glen Butler.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. CNN contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

Family Ties Forever! · 05-09-2011, 08:19 PM

I can't imagine waking up from dental surgery with a new accent.

catlover79 · 05-10-2011, 02:43 AM

Scary...

Marvo301 · 05-10-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Scary...

Let's just hope she doesn't grow dracula fangs to go with her Transylvanian accent!

Janice · 05-12-2011, 03:00 PM

That is just nuts. I wish the article went into more depth and explained why this happens. The doctors must have some idea.

catlover79 · 05-13-2011, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That is just nuts. I wish the article went into more depth and explained why this happens. The doctors must have some idea.

It sounds like the dentists went waaaaaaaaaaay too far into her mouth to give her a new accent!!! (I'm joking - I couldn't resist!!!)

Torgo · 05-13-2011, 11:31 AM

Bela Lugosi didn't die, he became a dentist in Oregon.

robyrob · 05-13-2011, 11:56 AM

if you change the shape of your jaw or your mouth it would change the timbre of your voice - this seems to be something psychosomatic, unless they somehow accidentally damaged some nerves in her mouth or tongue

...although when I used to drink, I would sometimes spontaneously develop a thick Scottish accent.

catlover79 · 05-13-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Bela Lugosi didn't die, he became a dentist in Oregon.

Reverend Jim · 05-13-2011, 07:25 PM

Family Ties Forever! · 05-13-2011, 09:37 PM

Here's a video and more information on what happened.

Quote:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42912831/ns/42934239
American woman wakes from surgery with British accent.

Janice · 05-14-2011, 06:56 PM

She's not angry. I guess there's nobody to get angry at, and there's nothing that can be done. She's taking it in stride. I'd hate it. Our voices, accents and all, are a big part of our identity.

05-10-2011, 02:43 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Scary...
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05-13-2011, 11:31 AM	#7
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,037	Bela Lugosi didn't die, he became a dentist in Oregon.
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05-13-2011, 11:56 AM	#8
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,203	if you change the shape of your jaw or your mouth it would change the timbre of your voice - this seems to be something psychosomatic, unless they somehow accidentally damaged some nerves in her mouth or tongue ...although when I used to drink, I would sometimes spontaneously develop a thick Scottish accent.
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05-09-2011, 08:19 PM	#2
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	I can't imagine waking up from dental surgery with a new accent.

05-12-2011, 03:00 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	That is just nuts. I wish the article went into more depth and explained why this happens. The doctors must have some idea.

05-13-2011, 07:25 PM	#10
Reverend Jim Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 08, 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 783

05-14-2011, 06:56 PM	#12
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	She's not angry. I guess there's nobody to get angry at, and there's nothing that can be done. She's taking it in stride. I'd hate it. Our voices, accents and all, are a big part of our identity.