Xenoglossy Examples

Cliff and Helen's son had just started to speak. Like with most children, his parents had trouble understanding what Jeff was saying. They thought his words sounded a little odd, but he was able to point to what he wanted at the same time as he asked, so they soon learned to follow his gobbledegook words.

Then one day a friend was at the house. When the young boy pointed to a drink and said 'his' word for it, the guest was astounded. After listening to the boy for awhile, he told the startled parents that their son was speaking perfect Greek...

On a later occasion after Jeff had grown out of speaking Greek and was speaking perfect English, they took him for a visit to their local catherdral. When confronted with some large statues at the entrance the boy pulled back, saying "No Mummy, I don't like it in there--I never liked it in there." His mother, puzzled, said, "But Jeff don't be silly. You've never been here before." The boy answered, "No--I mean before I was alive."' (names changed)

My mother's niece was a journalist for the first Dutch paper for immigrants in Canada. This must have been in the 50īs or 60īs. She had to be operated on and right after her operation she spoke Chinese with her doctor. A few days later that doctor came back to see how she was doing and addressed her in Chinese. She was very surprised that the doctor spoke Chinese to her and she said, "But doctor, I am a Dutch Canadian, I do not speak Chinese!" "You did a few days ago!" the doctor replied. This story of course is famous in my family.