It is the combination of many things that make each one of us who we are, including the way we walk and the way we hold chopsticks or tableware. _(1)_ When we make a phone call, our friends and family can usually recognize our voices on the line right away. Our voices are ours alone and unlike anyone else's in the world. That being said, what if our voices change? This does not refer to the change everyone, especially young men, go through during puberty. _(2)_
Trauma to the left side of the brain, where the speech center is, can cause a person to pronounce sounds and words differently. _(3)_ Or they may pronounce Ws as Vs, which is common in German and Swedish. It does not affect everyone in the same way, though. _(4)_
There are other effects as well. Life can be quite traumatic for people with FAS because they feel out of place and are treated differently by others. _(5)_ Even so, those dealing with FAS happily agree that while it has its drawbacks, a foreign accent is a much better outcome than the other possible results of brain injuries.
(A) Instead, it refers to a rare disorder caused by a brain injury—foreign accent syndrome (FAS).
(B) Some sufferers only experience FAS for a short time, while others have to deal with the condition permanently.
(C) For example, someone may start to roll their Rs, which is a trademark sound for Russian and Spanish accents.
(D) Having to explain the condition to strangers who curiously ask where the sufferer is from and being judged as faking the accent can be a real nuisance.
(E) In addition, along with our physical appearance, one of the first traits people notice is the sound of our voices.
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