Vocal Frying

[kybearfuzz]

Last week, I had two instances where vocal fry was brought to my attention. The first was a FB post by cincycub who stated that a trainer should not give a 30-minute presentation in vocal fry. The other was a podcast I was listening to on the plane ride home where the hosts were complaining that women should not be criticized (by old white men) for using vocal fry.

Needless to say, I wasn't impressed by the podcasters and turned it off.

It appears that young women today are using vocal fry as part of their regular speech. Studies have shown that using vocal fry in an interview is viewed negatively. I've also read that using vocal fry in some instances can have adverse effects on vocal chords.

While I do agree that people have the right to speak however they want, including using vocal fry, they should not be surprised by any negative outcomes. I suspect that most young people (both women and men) use vocal fry not because it makes them sounds more authoritative, but because they hear celebrities using this technique and want to emulate them. And I would use quotes around "celebrities," as in most cases it is reality TV people, such as those Kartrashian creatures, who are terribly polarizing.

So when a young lady walks into an interview and speaks in the vocal fry register, probably amplified by the nervousness that accompanies an interview situation, the appearance is that they are imitating a reality TV person, whose behavior may not be looked upon favorably in a business setting.

And on a personal note, if I had to listen to a training presentation in vocal fry, I admit I'd have trouble listening to it. And worse, taking it seriously.

Vocal fry should be relegated to drag queens only. At least those ladies I could take seriously.

Comments

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I had to look up the definition. I had no idea to what you were referring:) I listened to several examples. It truly is annoying! It makes the person doing it appear stupid.

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

I had to look it up, too, Neil. After listening to somebody speaking with and with the fry, it reminded me of the time back when I used to sing, and my vocal teacher would admonish us for "singing in our throats" and encourages us to place the sound higher up in our heads. That's the closest I can come to describing it.

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

I had never heard of that term. Maybe it's not used here?

[barak.livejournal.com]

I think the majority of the abusers are very young women from tweens to mid-twenties. I think I've only heard it a couple times from a cashier at work. What bugs me even more is this cashier who think she's being cute when she laughs in this Betty Boop way, and you can tell its totally fake because it's not how she laughs naturally. I have to leave the break room when she comes in because of it- and I'm not the only one.