To be irritated by women who talk in a baby voice all the time

[BobLobla]

I was in a shop yesterday and heard a young woman (early 20s) talking to her mum in the most affected child’s voice. It was obviously her ‘normal’ voice; I came across them several times. It was so annoying.

AIBU or is this perhaps a symptom of autism (my niece is autistic and speaks in an American accent and I’ve experienced this before when I was a teacher). I also taught a few girls who did this but grew out of it. This is more about women that talk like it. Why else would anyone talk in such a way that is so jarring and unnatural sounding?

Obviously none of my goddamn business etc. Was just wondering.

If they do it all the time, I would assume that’s the natural timbre of their voice, and therefore not really within their control.

If they put it on, to sound cute, that would annoy me!

I honestly don't know any woman who does this, and haven't come across one who does! It would be annoying though yes!

I’ve truly never experienced this, other than maybe Paris Hilton back in the day.

That said, my dd launches into an Australian accent sometimes to annoy me. I don’t know where she’s picked it up from other than maybe watching a lot of Australian children’s programming during COVID. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've not met anyone irl who does this but Arabella Weir on the Fast Show sprang to mind. If you're old enough to remember, she would be all feisty in the doctor's surgery with the nurse/receptionist but as soon as she was seen by the doctor she went all helpless and spoke as you describe.

I know several women who do this. One in particular uses baby language as well and she's nearly 60.

I’ve never encountered this, though I’ve encountered a couple of autistic undergraduates who spoke with strong US accents (we are not in the US). The first time I actually asked, because I genuinely thought the student (who was my personal tutee) was American, or at least had a US parent, but not only was he not American, had no American family, he had never even visited.

Yes this is just like my niece. It’s been from when she was very young even though noone else in the family speaks anything like it.

My MiL does this. I think she thinks it’s cute and ditsy. It makes my teeth itch.

I have got a babyish voice, I absolutely hate it. I don't do it to sound cute or come across a particular way, its just my natural speaking voice (unfortunately)

Haha yes remember it well.
This girl’s mum and other woman with her spoke perfectly normally. The girl’s voice was very high pitched and breathy. Ewwwww

Sorry this annoys you Fizbosshoes. Have you ever tried to ‘coach’ yourself to speak differently or are you resigned to it now?

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I find MM completely unbearable to listen to. The whole, breathless baby schtick makes her sound demented.

I agree op. I lose instant respect for women that do it.

I have a cousin who speaks like this. It used to irritate me when I was younger (and more judgemental!) but as I got older I came to appreciate how it suited her sunny personality. In the last few years however she's had a couple of bereavements and I've noticed her voice has changed slightly and to be honest I now actively miss her slightly lispy baby voice as now it feels like the world/ life has got to her in a way it hadn't before.

There could be many reasons, or it could just simply be that they’re annoying.

There’s a young woman I came across on TikTok who was berated viciously for her very annoying voice, she ended up explaining that both of her parents were deaf and so she spoke slower and with bigger mouth movements/expressions than most other people.

It’s just some peoples normal voice like @Fizbosshoes i have quite an annoying childish voice, I’ve had people on the phone ask if my mums home type thing. It just is what is is for some people. If the woman is doing it in the shop, she’s not doing it to be jarring or annoying, it’s just how her voice is.

I had a friend, quite a successful business woman who would turn on this kind of voice every time she was dealing with a man. With women she had a voice within a fairly normal register, as soon as a man came on the scene she went up an octave. I don't even think she knew she was doing it, but it was very annoying to listen to!

That wasn’t her real voice, it was the voice she gave to the character she created.

I’ve heard a recording of her talking in her real voice and it’s completely different.

I know. I can't watch her films.

Yes I have been asked multiple times, on the phone, if my parents are in , or assumed to be one of my kids (if the person knows DH but not me)

@BobLobla I think it would be difficult trying to change the way I normally speak - although I did once ask a friend who was a speech therapist and they advised not to.
Having said that I was interested in changing it because its pretty annoying for me not being taken seriously or being mistaken for your own child on the phone. It has never occurred to me that other people would find it as annoying (or more annoying!) than I do!

I've noticed a lot of women on TV over the last few years who seem to have an unnaturally high pitched voice, like they've breathed in some helium. No idea whether they're putting it on or not. Maybe they think it appeals to men?

If this annoys you don't go to Japan. It seems to be polite for women in shops, hotels etc to talk like this. It is considered attractive.