Where does the gay voice come from
Gay VOICE is a thing: You can tell a man is homosexual from the way they talk, say scientists
High pitched, extended vowels and incredibly articulated: so-called 'gay voice' is a true phenomenon, researchers say.
Two science YouTubers have scoured studies behind the theory that homosexual men contain a unique twang that transcends aspects like culture and upbringing.
Mitch Moffit, a biologist, and Greg Brown, a science teacher — who are both gay — explored what exactly constitutes a 'gay voice' and what might cause it.
In a clip uploaded to their channel, AsapSCIENCE, earlier this year the pair looked at research dating back to the early 90s.
They found that analysis comparing the pitch of straight and homosexual men's voices set up key differences in how they speak.
High pitched, extended vowels and incredibly articulated, so-called 'gay voice' is a real phenomenon, researchers say. Stock image
Mr Moffit explained: 'Results find that gay men verb with higher pitch variation meaning that their range from small to high is much more extreme than straight men.'
Mr Brow
What it means to 'sound gay'
But is there any reality to this stereotype? Do gay men actually sound different than straight men? And if so, why?
These are the questions in a new documentary, "Do I Sound Gay?" It's a fascinating and nuanced film, in which the filmmaker, David Thorpe, uses his feelings about his voice to look at attitudes toward homosexuality. It raises a complicated discussion about gay pride, lingering homophobia, disguised misogyny, and the extent to which we all alter the image that we present to the world.
As the film begins, Thorpe is disturbed because he realizes he doesn't like his voice any more. He's just gone through a break-up and is feeling unconfident and low. "Who could respect, much less fall in love with, an old braying ninny like me?" he asks.
Why do some gay men “sound” gay? After three years of research, linguistics professors Henry Rogers and Ron Smyth may be on the verge of answering that question. After identifying phonetic characteristics that seem to create a man’s voice sound gay, their best hunch is that some gay men may subconsciously adopt certain female speech patterns. They want to know how men acquire this manner of speaking, and why – especially when society so often stigmatizes those with gay-sounding voices.
Rogers and Smyth are also exploring the stereotypes that gay men sound effeminate and are recognized by the way they speak. They asked people to listen to recordings of 25 men, 17 of them gay. In 62 per cent of the cases the listeners identified the sexual orientation of the speakers correctly. Perhaps fewer than half of gay men sound gay, says Rogers.
The straightest-sounding voice in the study was in fact a gay man, and the sixth gayest-sounding voice was a straight man.
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When Your Voice Outs You
Over the years, I realised I hold had a lot of talents.
I can roll my tongue, impersonate a pigeon (my head tut is phenomenal), fly a kite without help, and most importantly, lie my way through a resume even while asleep. It’s a lot for one person.
But faking a baritone is clearly not one of them.
I knew my voice was “soft” (read: too girly for the masses and the misinformed) when I was eight. And unlike algebra or the recorder, booming appreciate a blue whale wasn’t taught in kindergarten. To avoid years of ridicule, I chose the only solution that seemed safe.
Silence.
I stopped yelling across playgrounds. Answered questions only when I had to. Played shy so I wouldn’t have to speak. It’s amazing what you can hand over off when you say you’re an introvert.
But the cracks showed. My voice would squeak out, high and sharp, and with it came sniggers and snide remarks.
“Why do you sound so nasal?”
I’d respond with something vague and medical, enough to slam them up until I changed schools—and bullies.
Eventually, I adapted. I modulated my voice to fit the room