Science Weekly Does a bit of booze really make us better at languages?
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Sep 30, 2025 Dr. Fritz Renner, a clinical psychology researcher at the University of Freiburg, discusses a humorous Ig Nobel-winning study examining whether alcohol truly enhances foreign-language skills. He shares insights on the experiment's setup, revealing that participants who had a drink were rated as more fluent by native speakers, particularly in pronunciation. Fritz explores the reasons behind this, suggesting that alcohol may relax speakers and reduce self-focus, making their speech more fluid. He also warns that overindulgence can impair communication and highlights non-drinking alternatives for improving fluency.
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Pub Chat Became A Study
- The idea began as a joking discussion at a conference pub about speaking better after a drink.
- Fritz Renner and colleagues turned that pub chat into a formal study to test the claim.
Small Alcohol Dose Improved Pronunciation
- They tested German students learning Dutch with either a small alcohol dose or water, then recorded short conversations.
- Independent native Dutch raters judged the alcohol group as speaking more fluently, especially in pronunciation.
Observers Not Learners Noticed Change
- Participants did not rate themselves as more fluent after drinking, but native Dutch raters did.
- The objective improvement concentrated on pronunciation rather than overall self-perceived ability.