Prompt Cast
The Controversy Surrounding Vocal Fry and Its Misunderstood Origins
TLDR Vocal fry, a speech trend often criticized as a sexist issue, is actually a linguistic change used by younger generations to convey disinterest or authority. The criticism of vocal fry reflects a fear of change and threat to traditional male dominance, but as more men adopt this speech pattern, women will be able to embrace it again.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Vocal fry is a speech trend that has been unfairly criticized and is often seen as a sexist issue.
04:13
Vocal fry is a speech trend that has evolved over time and is used by younger generations to indicate disinterest or authority, not incompetence, and those who criticize it may feel threatened by change.
08:28
Younger girls tend to be at the forefront of linguistic changes, and older men who criticize vocal fry may feel threatened by being replaced or becoming irrelevant.
12:31
The origin of upspeak, or vocal fry, can be traced back to popular girls in LA, possibly influenced by the Valley Girl talk in the 60s, which may have originated from Australia or New Zealand.
16:59
Vocal fry doesn't actually hurt your vocal cords, but sustained yelling in vocal fry could potentially cause damage; however, the criticism of vocal fry and other speech trends among women misses the point and reflects a fear of change and threat to traditional male dominance.
21:06
Women tend to adopt new words and speech patterns faster than men, and the widespread adoption of vocal fry and other speech trends is a reflection of a changing world that some men feel threatened by.
25:16
The study that claimed using vocal fry and upspeak can make it harder to get a job was flawed because the participants were intentionally using vocal fry and it had nothing to do with their natural speech patterns.
29:36
Men are starting to use vocal fry and upspeak more and more, while women who grew up talking like this are being forced to change and emulate the predominant white male version of talking, but eventually women will be able to take it on again once enough men do.
33:44
Men pay attention to how women say things, not necessarily what they're saying, which is a form of disguised sexism and a way of telling powerful women to shut up.
Categories:
Society & Culture
