Vocal fry

[Idleplum]

Is it just me or are more and more people speaking with a vocal fry? It’s so common, it has to be intentional. I absolutely can’t stand it.

MAFS Australia used to be my guilty pleasure but I had to give it up because I couldn’t take listening to all those guys horrible voices. Now I feel like every video I see online has someone speaking like it and my body does this weird, scrunched up thing because I hate it so much.

Because they probably speak with regular voices and don't sound like morons.

This explains a lot about vocal fry, and possibly why we might not like it.

Yes, I think a lot of it comes from wanting to sound a bit bored and unimpressed; the opposite of the “Elle Woods” very animated way of speaking. It’s painful to listen to

Lots of the teenagers use it around here - and yes, often alongside ups peak/rising inflection; I’d be delighted if it was just a fad as it really does them no favours in sounding credible/knowledgeable, which is a real shame

There are interesting podcasts that I’ve really wanted to listen to but have been unable to because I find vocal fry so very irritating.

@cramptramp snap, I’ve switched off countless interviews and podcasts for exactly this. How can the people doing it not realise how affected they sound?

GOOGLE IT YOU FUCK?

It's strange because not that many years ago so many women were talking in unnaturally high squeaky voices. Made them sound like Minnie Mouse. I don't know what's worst,that or vocal fry.

I came on to say the same thing.
The Loudermilk vocal fry skit is so funny. (But when I showed it to DS he said, 'There's nothing wrong with her voice - that man is just rude.' So it's a generational thing, I guess.)

God it’s hideous, luckily no one i know has developed it!

And you're monging this shit @Shitmonger?

Vocal fry does not make the speaker sound knowledgeable or confident. Quite the opposite - it's an obvious affectation and just sounds silly. In my opinion.

Agree! In Nz everyone speaks like that here. In my field I have to coach students to talk without rising inflection as the examiners are from the UK and will mark the students down because they sound uncertain.

I find it irritating but far more than irritating, I feel acutely uncomfortable, as though my own throat is being constricted.

She didn't dismiss them though. She just didn't hire them.

For some reason I immediately thought of Maya Hawke, even tho I’m not 100% sure what this is, I need to YouTube in the morning at a sensible hour. But then again if it’s what I think it is, her dad also does this.

I didn’t say she dismissed them. Our interviews have a proper process and nowhere on the scorecards is anything to do with how a person speaks. It’s all to do with education, experience, competence etc. You can’t be sure someone is putting it on. My friend had to get coached on how to lower her voice as it was naturally squeaky and high (she has a senior position and is on the media a lot). I just think it’s a bit sad that we are still discriminating over voices.

I’m a bit confused. My voice is naturally a bit deep for a woman and often raspy - I lose my voice easily so must have a weakness there. Does that mean I have vocal fry?
I’ve never noticed Rory Stewart having it. I just like listening to what he has to say and I enjoy the sound of his voice.

DH and I just look at each other and say ‘Loudermilk’ when we hear it and laugh. I guess that’s immature too ( but funny).

I had to turn off a radio off l interview on LBC the other day as the female guest had vocal fry and I couldn't listen.

There's also a YouTube channel where the male narrator has it and I can't listen to that either.

When you hear glimpse of the person speaking without it you realise how much more pleasant it is to speak normally. It makes me want to clear my throat, like others have said.

Regarding lifting up the end of sentences to sound like questions, I've been aware from a young age that Australians and New Zealanders do this so definitely been part of their natural voice for decades. But it seems to have spread to local secondary schools here in the UK.

I've come to the conclusion that in some people it might be an attention seeking thing? because they want you to answer their question?, to show that you are understanding what they're saying?

😩

@NebulousSadTimes

Like they’re asking ‘Do you know what I mean?’ ?

Yes @ExquisiteSocialSkills , frequently.

Yes, and also in some cases it’s because they want to sound unthreatening or un- confrontational