Bored-sounding, sing-song way of talking

[ifIwerenotanandroid]

I started noticing this on TV/radio, & now it's seeping into real life. Someone will be announcing something but instead of getting it across in a normal manner, they put on a dull, bored tone as if what they're saying is unimportant to them & having to announce it is sooooo tedious. Sometimes it also sounds like they're thinking about something else while talking.

I've recently had to listen to a series of talks, & the speakers did it. I get that they've probably said it all before, many times, but surely it's part of the job to NOT sound bored out of your own skull by the information you're imparting & resentful at having to say it?

As in the title, it's done with a childish, sing-song delivery.

Is this some new fashion?

YABU - It's the new normal
YANBU - It's infuriating

I simply can't fathom what this voice sounds like. PLEASE someone give an example. Please please!

Like the unseen presenter on Googlebox. .makes me want to smash the tv

I know what you mean OP. My 16 year old watches lots of YouTube videos from people (usually young women, and usually american) who speak like this.

@Bingus Any links?

@LindorDoubleChoc - @alltoomuchrightnow has it bob on, except this was a young woman and it was York Minster so it was higher pitched and a bit more well spoken. But that sort of bored/slow/distanced voice.

I agree with this. I even have a couple of friends who’ve started doing it - both have to create content for social media as part of their jobs.

Can I also nominate the “nearly shouting and over-emphasising every word to show how cool and fun I am” voice? There’s a woman who does the adverts for one of the mobile networks (and lots of other things) who does it. I can’t listen to it, it irritates me so much.

MasterBeth

Yes, I agree that your list represents some excellent broadcasters - but they are nearly all journalists who've proved themselves in their field, which I think it important. The problem arises (from my pov) more with the breed known as 'presenters', who are often selected for quite other reasons, often very modish ones. They're the ones most prone to be irritating!

A few months ago it seemed that every time I switched on the car radio, probably at the same time each afternoon, I had to turn off R4 because it always seemed to be an American woman talking! Nothing against American voices per se, but I did feel they were a bit over-represented at that time. They weren't talking about American issues - they were just rent-a-presenter types, and they certainly did have that sing-song intonation which I couldn't stand.

One of my nieces does it and it is beyond irritating.

I still can't imagine it! Please can someone find an influencer or presenter clip and post it?!

Here’s a skit on it
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EPYPkfCRO0U

The 'bored tannoy' delivery isn't vocal fry. But I never actually knew what vocal fry was until today so it's been useful.

'What is vocal fry & is it bad for you?' on Youtube was good.

Ah no, so this wasn’t how the person I experienced last week spoke, @Lamelie. Although now I have seen that clip, at least I’ll be ready when that one gets used on me too 😂

i know exactly what you mean and i thought I was the only person who’d noticed it! There’s a female news presenter on radio one who epitomises this. It’s so hard to explain: a sort of monotonous, falling over itself, jerky drawl with random words emphasised. Totally incongruous with the words’ meaning. Really irritating!

Yes! I hate this. This American Life (The Coldest Case in Laramie) to me is a prime example. Extremely irritating.

The woman who said she was bullied at high school by people making fun of her voice?

@MasterBeth Yes. The fact that she was bullied doesn't make her voice any less irritating. I find voices which convey boredom aren't particularly conducive to people warming towards them (although needless to say I wouldn't condone bullying because of it, or any other reason)

I am delighted to see I’m not the only one who is irritated beyond all reason my Amol Rajan’s delivery. He manages to sound bored, patronising and thick all at the same time. I turn him off.