Experimenting with the Link Between Alcohol Consumption and Foreign Language Proficiency
More Accurate Pronunciation... Improved Language Skills
A study has found that consuming a small amount of alcohol can enhance foreign language conversation skills.
On September 18 (local time), the British media outlet Daily Mail reported that a research team from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom conducted an experiment on the correlation between alcohol consumption and foreign language proficiency, targeting around 50 Germans who had recently learned Dutch.
The participants were randomly given either beer with an alcohol content of about 5% or a non-alcoholic beverage, after which they conversed in Dutch with an experimenter. The amount of alcohol was adjusted according to body weight; for example, a 70-kilogram man drank about 460 milliliters of beer.
Afterwards, a native Dutch speaker evaluated the participants' pronunciation and overall conversational ability, without knowing whether the subjects had consumed alcohol. The results showed that the group who drank beer demonstrated more accurate pronunciation and overall improved language skills compared to the group who drank non-alcoholic beverages.
The researchers initially hypothesized that alcohol would impair cognitive and motor functions, thereby reducing foreign language proficiency. However, the experiment produced the opposite results. The team explained that alcohol appeared to relax the participants and reduce language anxiety, making conversations flow more naturally.
However, the researchers emphasized, "This experiment involved a small number of participants and only limited amounts of alcohol were consumed," adding, "Excessive drinking can actually impair language abilities."
This study was awarded the Ig Nobel Peace Prize this year. The Ig Nobel Prizes are held annually at Harvard University in the United States and are given to ingenious studies that make people laugh while also encouraging scientific reflection.
Lead researcher Dr. Inge Kersbergen said, "I am delighted that this playful research has been recognized," adding, "The Ig Nobel Prize shows that science can be both serious and enjoyable." She further commented, "Sometimes, lighthearted questions can open up profound insights into human behavior."
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