More on accent preferences

[mtbc]

Several weeks ago I mentioned how I rather like some American accents from the South. Another characteristic correlated with voices' attractiveness to me is the use of vocal fry, the low-pitch vocal register. I recently read that young American females should avoid using vocal fry speech in order to maximize labor market opportunities and I briefly wondered if what I actually like is stigmatized ways of speaking.

Upon reflection, I think not: for example, I enjoy listening to Carly Chaikin in Mr Robot (2015) and her character does not fit the article's less competent, less educated, less trustworthy, less attractive despite her vocal fry. Or, thinking back to characters with Southern accents, even Keri Russell's unfortunate protagonist in Waitress (2007) eventually earns success and respect, though its script's dialog can be awkwardly inauthentic so perhaps it ought not count. (The musical of the movie is now on tour.)

If I do happen to find myself liking accents or dialects that some would rather not have, I am relieved to find that I do not think it is because I have any bad overall impression of the kind of people who do speak like that, perhaps quite the opposite. Still, it was strange to be wondering enough to cast my mind back to examples.

Update: In listening to Dr Hannah Fry I notice that she too seems to use vocal fry though I am not inclined to blame nominative determinism. She is a pleasure to listen to more because she usually sounds as if she is truly enjoying her radio work.

Comments

[conuly]

I briefly wondered if what I actually like is stigmatized ways of speaking.

I remember some surveys showing that young people, particularly women, do not have a negative view of vocal fry. Unsurprising, really.