What Is Vocal Fry? A Speech-Language Pathologist Explains
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- čas přidán 7. 02. 2016
- The ASHA Leader asks Washington, D.C.-based SLP Laura Purcell Verdun four questions about vocal fry and how she treats it in clients. Read more about vocal fry: on.asha.org/2CfpEdh
TRANSCRIPT:
Glottal or vocal fry is really the lowest vocal register that's produced.
[What is Vocal Fry?]
It's this aperiodic staccato sound that's formed by compression of the arytenoid cartilages or the vocal processes which are at the back of the vocal folds. Yet the vocal folds are maintained in a relatively loose position - there's very little air flow - then the voice becomes very sort of a popping or a creaking sound.
[So What Does It Sound Like?]
It will sound such as, “ahhh,” or within speech it may sound [like], “Today is Tuesday.”
[How Do You Aim to Treat It?]
So the primary issue with vocal fry is really based upon the nature of the vocal fry which is that there is -- Did you catch that? “Vocal fry” -- where the nature of the voice changes related to insufficient air flow. So the goal with normalizing voice production or normalized voice quality is based upon sufficient air flow, periodic vibrations of the vocal folds, and then a four word resonance.
[How Do You Work On It With Clients?]
So from a therapy standpoint we would very much direct our efforts towards attending to the air flow, making sure they take a breath, make sure they check their posture -- their shoulders, and their chest are well-stabilized -- and that they're using sufficient air flow really from the beginning to the end of the sentence as it occurs most often at the end of the sentence. So instead of saying, “Today is Tuesday, November 17th.” You would say, “Today is Tuesday, November 17th,” in an effort to sustain the air flow. When you sing, you keep the air moving as you sing when you would never trail off. People tend to do that when they speak so it's about reinforcing that consistent steady air stream from the beginning to the end.
My left ear really liked this video.
same here friend
my right ear fucking hated it
My right ear had no idea what was going on.
It's VERY angry, when it's denied the same access, as the left ear.
It wants to start a MASSIVE letter writing campaign, or even participate in a class action suit.
SOMEone should be held resPonsIble!!!
@@diligentsun1154 My eyes are also getting irritated by the unnecessary capitalization of words for emphasis.
I enjoyed this explanation, her demonstration of the fry, and her normal speaking voice
She’s obese
Here in 2024, I'm beginning to hear this coming from network professional news presenters, I'll never get used to it.
As you shouldn't, it's an epidemic!
It drives me crazy when I hear it. Never knew there was a name for it!
Same here! We’re being enlightened. Seems mostly liberal feminists C’s do this
She’s doing God’s work.
Huh?
😂😂😂😂😂 💯
☠️
I love you for this
That is hysterically funny. You get it.
I'm always fascinated by the hyperspecialization in every field of science, this is the end of a very long rabbit hole for me, and a week ago I didn't even know vocal fry existed
i just found out 5 minutes ago
It's a curse. Once you have it pointed out to you it's impossible to not hear it. It is simply everywhere.
Why do pilots always do it? They're like "the weather in Phoenix is uhhhh 85 degrees and sunny, uhh, flight attendants uhhhhhh please prepare for landing"
might that be the crackle of the intercom?
Because pilots are almost always dudes and thus don't get stigmatized for it, unlike women
@@maolsheachlannoceallaigh4772 I doubt that. It sounds too natural to be interference.
This is the best video on this. Thank you. Have no idea why it took 30 minutes to find. Thank you so much.
It was the first one I came to when I searched vocal fry. :)
Brain fry..... Maybe?
This is the most helpful video I've seen on vocal fry.
Thank you Laura for your clear and very helpful video.
Very good explanation and thousands times better than other videos. Thank you Maam
My left ear was so blessed to hear this informative information on vocalization. Now I just have to repeat everything out loud so my right ear can be informed as well 👍
I just realized how horrible mine is. I talk entire conversations like that with some people. I'm sorry.
your self honesty is refreshing, lol maybe if you speak how you feel people don't mind the vocal fry so much
I forgive you
Sometimes I end up talking like that too. It feels comfortable in a strange way.
@@lirianlemos.2 not for others
It's great that you have realised how you are irritating others. Thanks for the appology.
I have a perspective on vocal fry that’s a little unique, I do this a lot unfortunately (and I hate it!) but I only started doing it since developing chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis. My brain and body get absolutely exhausted to the point where it’s sometimes very difficult for me to make myself food, go to the bathroom, and speak. I’ve had this condition for several years now and it’s completely debilitating, I used to be highly functioning and successful but now I’m on disability. I often feel like I don’t have enough energy to end my sentences strongly, or even to speak normally. I hate that I vocal fry but I find it very hard to control with my new medical condition. Please don’t always autocorrect judge people or assume something about their character based on how they talk/sound, you never know what a person may be going through! Be kind!
I am quite surprised that vocal fry seems to have such a negative connotation. I just came here to research what it means/is from a video about singing in subharmonics (learnable technique which is similar to vocal fry - see czcams.com/video/9VI026eWiW4/video.html , he explains how to start using the technique at about 7:15).
Exactly it’s common when we’re tired or sick. I’ve had more than one vocal coach purposely use it to exercise the vocal chords. It won’t hurt your voice at all. It’s actually good. Whispering is actually bad. I hope your health gets better. ☺️
Sounds like a bullshit excuse. Put more effort into expressing yourself and people will take you more seriously😊.
Hi Georgia, Hope your health is better. Try juicing celery each day ~ medical medium. It could help you regain some energy. Also, topical magnesium ~ spray on your skin to absorb. Urine rinse your mouth ~ drink a little in your fresh juice ~ sounds nuts but it could help you. I think drinking alcohol is not good for our vocal chords too which no one talks about.
Did you happen to take a vaccine prior to your condition coming on?
It's a learned behavior.
No.
It’s so annoying! Thank you for explaining this. 🙌🏾
Very helpful!
That makes me crazy when people do that.
My left ear enjoyed this.
Kudos and thanks. A Katie Porter quality explanation..
Katie Porter, like 99.9% of politicians, is absolute trash. There is no higher insult to this wonderful lady than comparing her to Porter.
now that I'm deaf in my left ear...
Caus she's on the left. Haha.
Best comment. 🏅
Fantastic.
She’s great!
my left ear loved this video
EXCELLENT.
Great video thankyou!
My left ear loved this video
My left ear enjoyed this explanation.
I always called people who vocal fry for effect "pseudo intellectuals" because they try to seem bored and superior. But, I can tell if it is a physical problem. It's "Valley Girl" speak.
yeah...it's worse on females because it's litterally shrill. but with men it's kind of common and I dont notice it as much, nor is it as annoying as a girl saying it ;)
To me they sound inferior. Very inferior
Thanks !!
Thank you! Teachers should weed this out and refer kids to speech classes, just like they do with other speech problems.
Nice one!
wow thank you
Omg, I do this without knowing. I will have to practice my Tuesday 😮
Glottal fry [vocal fry] at the end of sentenes or phrases is often closely correlated with restricted flow of breath in support of the sound [ and hence sometimes other tensions and inhibitions in the articulatory organs as a compensation]
This disconnection to vocal support [I am speaking as a vocal coach] affects intention and directness of ommunication - in a training actor this would be important to address - but there are also powerful iimplications for upwardly mobile women in business
Does it cause permanent damage?
Tommaso only to those listening
@@dustinsmith4068 nailed it XD
So it is a "condition"? I am more fascinated in the speaker's intention or personality background which causes such characteristics to be acquired or subliminally produced. I've always felt that many such speech patterns are based on the speaker's inner desire to convey certain messages, such as that they are very wealthy, insightful, or have a notable measure of self-viewed superiority. Body language can also be used in this way.
I think more than anything it's due to their surrounding influences (friends, etc.) as well as pop culture (i.e. celebrities). It's more the inevitable evolution of speech and new accepted norms
@@cherylmaryland4726 Perhaps it represents new norms (which I prefer to call unpleasant fads), but don't they have any idea how hopelessly vapid, uneducated, and inane it makes them all sound? I don't care how rich the Kardashians are or any actresses, I hold zero respect for any of them. They are willfully making choices to sound as stupid as possible.
That vocal fry. Like nails on chalkboard.
When I was a kid, I was watching National Treasure and noticed Vocal Fry whenever Riley/Justin Bartha spoke- neat to know it's not just me!
That's so interesting
Hm. OK so if you aren't using enough air flow you are just doing the bare minimum in communicating.
Got it.
It's the slouch of speech.
Ohh thank you
I'm so glad I found out that there is a name for this! Also known as the Kardashian fry or the Paris Hilton fry😆😆😆
Excellent presentation and very clear. I am delighted to hear this exasperating habit is a) pathological, and b) susceptible to professional treatment.
I speak with a an almost constant vocal fry, and I feel like it sounds lazy and tired … looking to improve it
I didn't know what this phase meant. Thank you that this was a 2 min video. Also, there's therapy for it?! The whole thing is so weird🤣
I find that I’m able to on command/sometimes do by accident use vocal fry at ANY pitch. In other words, it’s _not_ only at the lowest part of my register.
Does this just mean a lack of air flow and/or general improper breathing?
It is very common when speaking a foreign language, especially when not very fluent in the language, and one has to think, translate, then speak. As one has not intuitively taken a large enough breath to finish the sentence, as kne would naturally in their mother tongue. Or in another language spoken as well as their mother tongue, in which you don't translate then speak. You see something and say the word for it, intuitively, in the foreign language. Translating actually slows one down, therefore adding to the vocal fry.
It's interesting you say this because I am bilingual and I have a bit of vocal fry only in my native language. When speaking my other language - French I sound totally different. Zero fry. It's like that's my real language and the vocal fry is my learned behaviour because Americans are trashy like that.
*voice, not language
Mmm... I speak 6 languages and have never, ever used 'vocal fry' in any of them. I find it painful to listen to (and irritating). In some people it really is an acquired affectation (just like the annoying 'upspeak').
This is great but mmmm why is there only one channel audio. I love it but only one ear makes it less perfect...
One of my biggest pet peeves. But I use it myself when I want to be manipulative.
Very interesting explanation. Does vocal fry happen out of nervousness, or is it just bad vocalization habits, or something else?
CZcams needs to add a mono audio option. Sheesh
Its the voice that came from stoner culture. Stoner surfer speak. Cuz when you get real high you're like " hey maann try some of this chit yeeahh". All slow and stoned like. It is a way to indicate that mindset while speaking.
and it's the way a person might speak when theyre holding a hit in....
/Thread
Awesome. I do voice overs and have a husky voice. Now I'm confused if it's all fry.
I sound like that in the morning...afternoon...and night.😳
I always called it my California accent.🌎 It doesn't bug me when people speak that way too.
@G. V. Q I hear ya. I meant I "sound" like that because it is the first words I have spoken for hours and my voice is horse till it adjusts to my normal voice. Sort of like a frog in my throat.🐸
It's like a stutter, a bad habit.
it's not an accent. It's a self-inflicted impediment.
@@spideywhiplash*hoarse
interesting!!
That way of talking may not always have to sound quite so raspy to be considered vocal fry. But, either way, if someone is talking to you in a voice that seems immature or less-than-genuine, just try to keep in mind that they're probably using their voice as a mask, or subconsciously using it to hold on to their silliness and connect with their inner child.
It's not always a method of TRYING to sound like a valleygirl, and it's not intentionally used as a method of coming off as being "fake" or pretentious. Please be kind to others.
I had much more self-esteem and a much greater ability to speak to people openly and honestly, when I used a more valleygirl type of voice. I was also able to pull off many more well-presented dry-humored and sarcastic jokes, and this could happen without people getting mad at me, and without them knowing if I was kidding or not, and without them thinking I'm just rude.
Now, always using my "real" voice has been terrible. It sucks. If I could deal with moving away from everyone I love and everything I've known, I would start over somewhere, with a new voice.
To be clearly unclear, though, I've never even had a "real" voice. I've always used many different voices, tones, pitches, ways of breathing, etc... and I was always incredibly good at mimicking the voices of others. Now, I can barely mimick the little Fergie rap in Fergalicious. It's a sad story. I'm far too serious, now.
Yea but this particular vocal fry voice is making other people biologically uncomfortable, literally! I have a friend that keeps talking to me like this and I just can’t hold it anymore… I plan to tell him about this in the most gentle way as possible. Hopefully I won’t hurt his feeling. But if he keeps talking like this I’m sorry I’m unable to hang out with him anymore. This voice is just so cringy it makes me so sick. it’s impossible to enjoy conversation when someone talk like this
I think something terrible is wrong or about to go wrong. Maybe you want to hide because you don't like yourself. Please send me only $10 and I will explain at length what you should do.
The problem is with you, my man. Your friend is doing nothing wrong, he is just talking and trying to communicate. You are the one taking offense, and as we learned in kindergarten taking something that wasn’t offered is rude.
I can finally sleep at peace tonight now that I figured out the name of that little monster who always get me confused with the stereotypical "Valley girl accent" or "California North/South accent"
I learning how to vocal fry for singing just now, then now I want to unlearn the vocal fry, my weird circle is running well
Video from Speech and Hearing Association => Microphone sound only in left Ear.
😢
What about intentional use of vocal fry in singing? When I always have enough air, can it still be harmful? Is it more dangerous when singing higher?
There is a video by David Larson - How I Helped Change Singing Forever: 7 Years of Subharmonics, in which he gives a tutorial how to learn subharmonics, which as far as I know is exactly what you describe in your first question :) The tut starts at around 7:15, but the rest is also enjoyable to watch :)
I came here because of New Heights podcast.
Hi guys... I'm missing something. What are the comment references to the left ear? Thank you.
Use headphones and find out
This is such a great explanation and I would like to share with this a co-worker. She speaks with this and it's quite annoying in the business environment. Not sure how I can present this to her--love to hear everyone's thoughts.
You might want to send it to her anonymously, unless you’re friends and comfortable with each other, to where she won’t become offended.
Honestly, not sure there's a way you can do it, unless she, for some reason, brings it up first.
That's a terrible idea
If you're not her manager, parent, spouse it's not your job to correct her speech. Use noise cancelling headphones and move on
I didnt even know this was a thing but ive always hated the sound of my own voice and turns out this is why. I dont try to do it intentionally. It just happens. Especially if im tired or if its the day after a sporting event where i was cheering a lot and my voice is tired.
Now that i read all the hate in these comments im kinda worried that everyone in my personal life secretly hates my voice, like i just naturally have a fairly low pitched grainier voice, especially when talking quietly. Its not something I intentionally try to do, that's just the way my voice is.
If someone's nitpicky enough to have a problem with you just because of your natural speaking voice, I don't think you should let their opinion of you weigh too heavily on your mind. Your voice is bound to be beautiful to someone, and maybe grating to others, so I think you should just accept it as a part of you.
Listen to me. If its entirely natural - it will not offend anyone. It's when it feels contrived that it offends. Its rather like an OTT posh voice. People think "OMG what is this person trying to be?"
How long will i practice daily
I think it's natural for some people to talk like this and it feels kinda relaxing to make that sound, no need to be sexist.
Left ear moment
When she said today is Tuesday like that it made me instantly angry 😂
I looked up vocal fry because I was listening to someone with doing the vocal fry - upspeak combo and I wanted to hit them so bad.
I’m afraid to hear what upspeak with vocal fry would sound like.
I find upspeak even more annoying than vocal fry. People think we admire them more when they put on these affectations. We do not, but we keep it to ourselves. I always remember people's affectations because then I forever will view them as a phony.
Got it, so this is similar to the 1980’s “like, OH MY GWAD”!? I grew up in the “OC”, Orange County and valley girl talk was all the rage. This is the newest talk speech? Listening to it is like nails down a chalkboard. I get now why people used to tease me about my “valley girl” accent.
What is "normalized vocal quality"? How is it objectively assessed? To what extent should it be a goal for remediation?
Speaking in your middle vocal register is healthy. Constantly using the lowest vocal register can damage the voice. I have been trying it out for a couple of minutes and my throat hurts.
Normal is to speak with a rich and full timbre of voice, as opposed to thin and croaky as with vocal fry.
A 'normalized' voice quality results in you not wanting to attack the speaker with a frying pan.
@@tcrown3333 🤣😂😅😂🤣
@@Starlightndust Was I too harsh? 😂🤣😜
Rarely do you see someone who knows their topic area so well, most people are bullshitting
Today is Tuesdayyy 😅 the look on her face 😅
Man, I think she can really sing too.
I would love to know why I am hearing younger people in certain circles, especially on CZcams, replacing t's in words like important, mountain, Martin, certain, with a glottal stop. I think it's confusing for someone whose first language is not English.
Evolution of language
@@cherylmaryland4726 Does the evolution of language also include incomplete sentences and no punctuation?
More like the de-evolution of language.
I grew up in an area that doesn't use Ts and rarely uses Gs, that's why.
It's a regional accent (I think British) that has probably spread in an imitation of a celebrity.
Why is it only going through left speaker haha
Great explanation though!
It's challenging to listen to vocal fry. Maybe its a lazy affect?
What about the death metal growl? \m/ (Think Chris Barnes.)
Good question, because they can do it even with high voice, loud and for long (I'm thinking of Chester Bennington). I did a quick search, these are called grunt, growl etc... and are vocal techniques, that need specific training to be masterised in order not to damage the voice. To produce these sounds, you need to train your diaphragm and play with the position of your larynx. I found this : czcams.com/video/suz6hyhqua0/video.html Chester Bennington's scream is called fry scream. And if you'd like to learn how to do it : czcams.com/video/ZHyL1LqNKuk/video.html
In otherwords, it’s a afternoon spent with a Kardashian family member….
kortnnnnnaayyy….
Khloooooaaayyy
Kendaaaaaaalll….
Why can i only hear her in one of my headphones? I know my headphones aren't broken
So, it is actually a pathology. Interesting.
I went to HS in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, and this is when it started to become really prominent - but it’s my impression that my generation at least understood that to sound professional, and not like a child, a stronger effort should be made to increase airflow and articulate better.
Younger millennials (since I’m technically one,) and especially people in their 20’s and gen z seem to adopt this way more broadly: I rarely meet a young person who doesn’t speak like this, and I’ve been trying lately to not see it as something to correct simply because they all speak like this.
This, mixed with the constant repeating of “omg,” “lol,” “literally,” and “like,” really do make young adults sound like children trying to be cool.... but I guess that is what young adulthood is about....
Any thoughts? Would love to hear from a younger person!
Update: now working in a corporate environment and can confirm that all ages among the millennial spectrum (born in 1980 onward) seem to use it, along with uptalk where everything sounds like a question.
Whether this is specific to the corporate workspace has yet to be realized for me.
Vocal fry is the lowest human vocal register below chest voice. It is not a pathology. The lady talking is a pathologist and she would treat people who had trouble controlling their use of vocal fry. Say someone had had a stroke and couldn't modulate between registers when speaking she could help them find more controlled speech.
I agree. Currently reading a book "The Power of Voice" and the author mentions that this issue is much more prevalent in younger people. She points out that it was popularized by the Valley Girl talk and made widespread through social media and the influence that group has around the country
My understanding is that mostly women celebrities commit this "crime" and therefore there's an inherent/ implied misogynistic element to the discourse around it. Personally, I find it annoying. And honestly detracts from any conversation or argument the person may be presenting. Just being honest. This, as a person who grew up with the awful habit of peppering "like" in conversation
@@cherylmaryland4726 I don't think there's anything "misogynistic " about it. It's just an extremely annoying habit that some people have acquired in the last few years. Our society seems to be getting less articulate, refined and standards have collapsed. It seems the majority of those that speak in vocal fry don't even notice themselves or others speaking that way. I don't if it would be easier to find a way to ignore it or teach proper speaking techniques to the ones that speak that way.
One day, a lady at work mentioned that I was talking in my "little voice" today (Khloe Kardashian/Paris Hilton type). A guy at my next work told me he thought I was being pretentious. While I can't even remember how to talk like that once I stopped- and although those two things did burst my bubble enough to get me to stop talking like that- they also crushed my vocal self-esteem to the point of not wanting to be very vocal with people.
I feel like I'm way too serious now, and I forgot how to play around with my voice. It's a real kick in the throat chakra. So, however you decide to approach it, just be nice. Otherwise, don't say anything about it.
Maybe you can ask them to try to copy your tone, and then be like, "wow, your voice sounds really nice when you talk like that" :)
Edit: I just remembered another important occurrence that came of always having to use my serious voice: For whatever reason, it has unleashed some type of aspergers. It's interesting how changing what we put out into the world, can reflect back within us and change how we are on the inside.
One of my colleagues does it. She thinks that she sounds caring and empathic, 'Yeeeeeeesssss, I knoooooow'. I can't stand it.
Los Angeles has entered the chat *
I’m disappointed she did not address the notion to simply tell people not to do it. So many people just do it on purpose.
Thanks for making this video! Vocal Fry or Growl Talking is what I call it, It makes me crazy! It sounds worse on the phone and these young women don't even realize that it's like fingernails on a chalkboard, at least to me! :-D
Do people do it on purpose? And can you do damage to your throat doing this?
Mostly associated with a low register but isn’t actually a register - it’s used as a stylistic technique quite deliberately in song.
I say not a register as you can use ‘fry’ throughout your range (although it’s easiest and most natural at a low frequency given the causation) and there are (IMO) only two true ‘registers’ and these depend on the oscillating pattern of the vocal folds not just the amount and speed of the vibration.
If you apply the theory of glottal or vocal
Fry throughout your range you’ll see you can achieve this ‘creaking sound) all over.
It isn’t health to use excessively though as you are asking for improper cord closure and in sustained steady air flow; debate away 👌🏼
* unsustained
Nicole Wallace has vocal fry .
Thank you for your demo. I thought vocal fry was special effect and sounded sexier.
No: it's just sounds profoundly annoying. 😅
That lady's voice from tik tok videos comes to mind.
this woman is a saint. curing influencers and thotts of their sickness everyday, she is
Drives me completely insane😡😡😡😡
it's very fashionable these days on Married at First Sight anywhere.
It's gotten out of hand on tv, including commercials. So annoying 🙄
Seen it deliberately done on commercials the movie Idiocracy was a documentary
My 2c... vocals are too clean. Need some fry in there. Then you can call it rock.
I work with a lady whose whole voice is fried!
So it's just a hesitant before you speak?
I vote for electroshock to treat vocal fry.
I second that. Perhaps with very high voltage.
It so nice to hear a female voice without unnatural vocal fry. Her voice it totally refreshing
I only hear that in american speakers. Why?