diff --git a/code/datums/mind/_mind.dm b/code/datums/mind/_mind.dm
index 2d797090683..287503058af 100644
--- a/code/datums/mind/_mind.dm
+++ b/code/datums/mind/_mind.dm
@@ -167,8 +167,15 @@
 	set_current(null)
 
 /datum/mind/proc/get_language_holder()
-	if(!language_holder)
-		language_holder = new (src)
+	if(isnull(language_holder))
+		if(iscarbon(current))
+			var/mob/living/carbon/talker = current
+			// AHH WHY DO MINDS ALSO HAVE LANGUAGE HOLDERS WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE "MIND" LANGUAGE SOURCE IF WE STORE IT TWICE ANYWAYS
+			var/type_to_use = talker.dna?.species?.species_language_holder || talker.language_holder?.type || /datum/language_holder
+			language_holder = new type_to_use(src)
+		else
+			language_holder = new(src)
+
 	return language_holder
 
 /datum/mind/proc/transfer_to(mob/new_character, force_key_move = 0)
diff --git a/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm b/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm
index b6b17ebeac3..378c5f60808 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm
@@ -288,10 +288,15 @@ Key procs
 	selected_language = /datum/language/draconic
 
 /datum/language_holder/lizard/silver
-	understood_languages = list(/datum/language/uncommon = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
-								/datum/language/draconic = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM))
-	spoken_languages = list(/datum/language/uncommon = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
-							/datum/language/draconic = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM))
+	understood_languages = list(
+		/datum/language/common = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM), // yes we hear you, but we refuse to speak your peasant language
+		/datum/language/uncommon = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
+		/datum/language/draconic = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
+	)
+	spoken_languages = list(
+		/datum/language/uncommon = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
+		/datum/language/draconic = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
+	)
 	selected_language = /datum/language/uncommon
 
 /datum/language_holder/monkey