diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm
index eed39a5acb4..2a7405fa0b0 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals.dm
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
 #define COMSIG_MOVABLE_HEAR "movable_hear"
 	#define HEARING_MESSAGE 1
 	#define HEARING_SPEAKER 2
-//	#define HEARING_LANGUAGE 3
+	#define HEARING_LANGUAGE 3
 	#define HEARING_RAW_MESSAGE 4
 	/* #define HEARING_RADIO_FREQ 5
 	#define HEARING_SPANS 6
diff --git a/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm b/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm
index dd8b4c60a1a..cbdb1d7d24f 100644
--- a/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm
+++ b/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@
 		return
 	if(HAS_TRAIT(owner, TRAIT_FEARLESS))
 		return
+	if(!owner.has_language(hearing_args[HEARING_LANGUAGE])) //can't be triggered if you don't know the language
+		return
 	if(trigger_regex.Find(hearing_args[HEARING_RAW_MESSAGE]) != 0)
 		addtimer(CALLBACK(src, .proc/freak_out, null, trigger_regex.group[2]), 10) //to react AFTER the chat message
 		hearing_args[HEARING_RAW_MESSAGE] = trigger_regex.Replace(hearing_args[HEARING_RAW_MESSAGE], "<span class='phobia'>$2</span>$3")