This may be a useless study. Years ago, I asked my wife what the deal was with young women and croaking at the end of words or sentences. She never even noticed it. I said they all sound like they're trying to talk like Jennifer Lopez or some of the other pop stars. Once she realized what I was pointing out, she can't go without letting me know when she hears it. In my opinion, it is quite annoying. It is OK coming from frogs or toads, but women?

If you have ever heard the credit protection commercial that was out a few years ago where the girl buys a bra that "lifts and separates", this is just the creaking sound. I think these women don't even realize they are doing it, or, maybe they think it sounds sexy like when you groan/creak (vocally of course) when having fore play and/or sex. In any case, it is annoying in standard conversation.

Another annoying way to speak is when women talk like a child and raise the pitch at the end of every sentence. I've heard that too in standard conversation. But it is especially annoying when they are doing this and asking you to do something for them. I guess in their experience, they get what they want when they speak like a child.

Unfortunately, for me, I'm so damned literal, I can't get over it once I notice it...it drives me nuts. When I hear "aks" for "ask", I feel like saying, "its a frigging 3-letter word and you can't say it correctly!" "Witch you" for "with you" or "Dis" for "this" and "dat" for "that? Twelve years of education shot to hell! Some people speak like this after 4 or more years in college.

This country is one big freaking speech impediment!

Amen. Though... I am a female in college and I have never noticed this croaking sound. Then again, I don't notice much due to having a one-tracked mind.

This country is one big freaking speech impediment!

Dis is no laughing matter. Whachu think bout dat? *crack voice at the end*

Couldn't resist! ;)

I'm also a female in college and I never noticed either... I guess it could be because my roommate is a music major so she attempts to sing opera all of the friggen time...

I just graduated from an Acting Conservatory, and I can tell you that there wasn't a single person in my class who didn't have to be coached (and it's a process, let me tell you!) not to fry. Thing is, not a single person noticed that they did it before our Voice teacher pointed it out. Now, I notice it everywhere!

Jaime 777...My cousin sings opera as well. She is very literaland when she speaks, it is very clear...a beautiful voice all the way around. She also speaks 5 languages and sings opera in three. Definitely no croaking there.

skate_08...Wow! It is worse than I thought. Maybe speech therapy is a good major to get into?

That's cool Prospect Survival! I wish my roommate could get voice training or something. When she sings it sounds like she runs out of air and tries to force it. I'm a journalism major so I don't have a huge appreciation for music, and boy, does her singing drive me up the wall! I usually put the headphones in when she practices haha.

Haha! I recommend the noise canceling head phones from Bose.

I would but I'm in college remember? I can barely afford gas to drive home haha! (true story)

For now I shall continue to annoy the heck out of her with my alternative rock on surround sound when I study. (Mwahahahahaha!)

Jamie; interesting comment about some kind of separation between music and journalism (some might say snob like). I have been involved with music since I joined the choir in sixth grade, and I am snob like when it come to what others listen to. Just like how many judge you by the books one reads - the same is true for what music you listen to.

Many of my favorite albums are Rock Operas like Tommy, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and Soap Opera by the Kinks. Opera is basically a story - how you can think the written word is different than a song surprises me. Most of my favorite quotes come from music, not literature.

I enjoy Classic Rock and Alternative to name a few - but once you decide to really explore music, the Blues is a natural draw because of its stories and soul. I'm also into the Jam bands because of the colorful nature of its fans....many books detail the lives of musicians, I think you are really missing out to be too focused on one path.

Have you read In Search Of Authority in WRT101? It will show you many ways to look at the written word and how the reader accepts a message. My son is in medical school - but he doesn't just study medicine, he studies life.

A speech disorder? Now, I'm no longer amazed as to why those Bimbos in Hollyweird are croaking, especially Kim Kardashian. I find it rather annoying. What's next? Singing like a goat, so you can get different note ranges?

I can believe this. I remember when "Clueless" came out and everything "valley girl" was popular. Girls began speaking with their vocal tone rising at the end of nearly every statement, as if every sentence was a question. The habit became so ingrained, that some of these girls still do this and it drives me crazy. It sounds so unprofessional.

I would take valley girl over croaking any day!

YO HN -155: I am still amazed at the 29 and 30 year olds still talking like valley girls. That and their Tatts will be very interesting when they are 40. Even more so at college grads who like totally, like misuse words and like mispronounce them and like if you aks them man they say like what's wrong witchuu. One of my Faves is a 25 year old graduated with a degree in English wanting to become an English teacher. Misuses words from time to time. My wife who received her degree in German and a cert to teach many years ago asked her about that, and the young teacher wannabe said it didn't matter. And so we see grads from HS and college who are functionally illiterate. I like her personally but hope she never lands a teaching job with that attitude. And what is up with TV news readers and all the stuttering, hemming and hawing they do. CNN Ali Veshi, and the two women in the morning are examples - but many do it, not just them. Now I hope I didn't misuse and misspell too many words in this.

@drainbramage

It's funny how the two can be intertwined, yet so different. I express my thoughts with words, but in music it's the same way but with a melody behind it. I should have stated that alternative is definitely not the only thing I listen to. You should see my "study" playlist... Hans Zimmer! I actually really enjoy listening to orchestra versus opera. Instruments really have a way of bringing out emotion. Well, that and I played saxophone all through high school ;)

I've never read In Search Of Authority in WRT101. I am just a freshman, so I'm quite literally just diving into my studies and getting the hang of college. I'll have to take a TON of writing classes, so I'm sure I will run into that sooner or later :)

Thanks for the tip though! Good luck to your son! I wish I had the drive to shoot for med school but alas, I have the attention span of a pea when it comes to mathematics and pretty much any science, hence my being a journalism student instead. I have big dreams for this though, and I'll work hard to reach those dreams :)

Have a wonderful day and Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

-Jaime

Some months ago I read another article on this subject. The authors then indicated it could be caused by the common practice today of women giving head to men. Plausible, maybe.

Important news or not, I can't stand the crackling, croaking voice bit. It's really annoying. I remember a female speaker for "People Rise Up" (or whatever) on KBOO in Oregon used to have the worst croaking voice. All I could think as I changed the station was "F'n liberals...".

In addition to the various annoying patterns mentioned above, has anyone noticed the increasing tendancy for people, young women especially, to end every sentence with "so..."? As in some variation of, "That's about all I have to say about (insert topic) and I can't think of anything else to say, so..."

haha MikeyMike! The one that gets me is "like."

Like, omg, like I can't believe he totally, like, cheated on me like that!

I think my biggest peeve is the monotone voice... my ears totally shut down around someone (man or woman) who uses that when they have the floor. I have to walk away.

The other on is the question at the end of each sentence.. oh man! Then there's also the overuse of "you know, so, basically, and actually". This makes me absolutely nuts.

I guess what I'm saying is... shut up and kiss me.

@Jaime 777 Ah... instead of Bose (pricey).. use skullcandy earphones... they work wonders..

Ugh, clearly that was supposed to say "like a question" not "like a sentence." Probably shouldn't rag on how other people talk when I can't seem to manage it myself!

Beakergeek--I've been irritated for years by the sound of young women's voices and the "new croaking sounds" they make. But. . . I have a different take on it.

You see, I started noticing it first during interviews, when the young, female interviewee would try to sound so, so sincere and thought full!! in responses to lame questions! THEN, the Joan-on-the-street interviews after some crime or other. The "best friend" (or whatever) of the accused, trying so HARD to understand "Jay's" abherrant, she could barely croak out her sentiments ("It was all so painful to contemplate!"). . .

THEN, the plethora of women attaching themselves to the agony of the mother-with-the-missing/dead-child! Each one, borrowing the distraught woman's pain as her own, would start croaking out the pain SHE feels (or would feel) over the loss of even one of life's most precious children, etc. etc. THEN , . . .

The use of the croaky voice by spokeswomen for various products/services. This was supposed to assure the consumer/client of their sincerity and true belief in the wonders of the 1. the latest mop on the market, or 2. the benefits of getting college degree in one's pajamas! And, FINALLY, . . .

The wholesale adoption of the croaky voice by every woman under the age of 35. But, I don't think it has to do with music. Rather, I think its an affectation, designed to effect certain sympathetic reactions. That the speaker is a young, innocent, inexperienced girl (at age 30!), that she's trying ever-so-hard to overcome her usual reticence(?) (as though that even exists in today's culture) to address "this very serious topic/crime ("It's just so difficult to talk about this. . . ") [after which she'll drone on and on and on!]

The survey may call it the croaky voice; I call it the "what about me?! I'm suffering, too!!" voice. I've had to watch it grow in popularity for over 30 years now. It drives me so crazy I'm considering praying for an early death!! Sorry about the rant; I guess you can guess this widespread affectation has become my topmost pet peeve!! I'll slink quietly away now. . . .

Margaret, I agree with you. In theatre croaking is often used to convey very emotional moments and is used sparingly just for those certain moments. I think the trend to include croaking in everything you say and sing and do originally crept in because it is "a very emotional sound" and "angst" and "suffering" is a very popular theme with today's youth. So singing and speaking like this became another way to show just how very emotional a person is. And then as more and more people use it in your daily life and in media, it becomes the way children learn to speak. Much like how if we were born in the 40s we would have different inflections, speech patterns, and ways we use our vocal chords to sound like someone from that era.

Thank you, ShannonDee, for being so much more succinct than I was able to manage. But, now, you're scaring me! This affectation might become permanent??!!

If you were born in the 40s, as was I(?), you must have seen some of the "angst and suffering" of the beatniks of the late 50s. Most of them managed to outgrow their mumbling phase by the time they reached 30. I had hoped it would be the same with today's youth. Please, let's bring phonics and speech training back to grade school (along with grammar)!

I have a hard time believing girls who practice this affectation could attract a permanent life partner (male, I mean; and assuming they want one). Most young men, I've noticed, perceive the tone to be "bitchy" and annoying; an interesting side effect, I guess. . .

Slightly off-topic, for a sec, have you noticed that the same girls/women also seem unable to walk/stand properly in high heels? They "toe in" and rest on one hip, with the head tipped aside and down. Trying to look younger, innocent, and inexperienced? Not very convincing, these days, at age 25! Maybe, proper posture could be added to the phys ed classes!

Company's arrived, gotta go!

I know. I don't say much of importance. Though, you have to admit that this is an interesting study!

It IS a useful study because these women have picked up a speech pattern (some without realizing it) and they could be damaging their vocal cords.

Anna...Listen to the YouTube link on FREDA-291954's post below. This is exactly the sound. My sister has bad allergies, smokes and always has upper respiratory issues, but the sound is not the same. You can tell the difference.

Anna - it makes a big difference if you want to go far in life. Maybe you don't want the challenge to be all you can be (I'm guilty of that one), so if you can get where you want to be and don't have to change anything, then so be it. In my era it was cool to talk like a stoner, then it was the Vally Girl stage, now it is the I Lived A Hard Life era (not attractive if you are female). Most people who fall into these speech patterns don't even know they do it until they hear themselves on a recording like voice mail.

The one thing I do know - is if given the choice, almost everybody would choose to talk in an educated manor and appear professional. Even the biggest loser wants to be like the classy kid at school - the classy kid never wants to be like the loser...lol.

Now who's being a snob? Classy and loser comments? Wow Drainbramage.

This "study" is nonsense btw.

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." Oscar Wilde

That sounds like a very positive thing! I am going to guess you now have a very elegant voice and speech pattern.

Personally, I would like to take vocal coaching to learn to talk like they did in the past. Whenever I watch something from the era of black and white movies, I think the way they speak is utterly charming and beautiful.

It sounds like you have created a careful and intelligent environment for them to grow up in. I have yet to meet a well-spoken person who is not intelligent, educated, or just in general careful about what they read or pay attention to in the media.

Awesome. So what excuse do the TV Newsreaders have for all their stuttering and stammering when reading simple sentences ?

I agree. That's what I was saying above...ending all sentences like they are questions is a perfect description. It is highly annoying.

I'm Ron Burgundy?

Still better, on average, than those who don't go to college.

Unfortunately, the "like" girls are still here. Then there are the "dude" boys...also annoying.

What I despise (and am guilty of - and cannot break the habit) is when people say "So I was talking to her, and I was like "Hey how's it going?" and she was like "Hey I haven't seen you in forever." So I was like, "What are you doing for dinner tonight?" And she was like, "I don't have plans, want to meet up?""

It's "I said, She said" not "She was like"... but I find myself saying that exact stupid thing and it makes me insane!

I am guilty of it too! I hate that I do it, but somehow it just slips in there.

I never thought about the vocal fry thing before but now that I do think about it, I do hear it a lot.

As for the valley girl, end every sentence with a ?, it makes me insane. In fact, teenage girls make me insane - I know I was a teenage girl once but I debate whether or not I was as annoying as teenage girls are today.

We also have the "you know"s. I can not stand hearing "you know" used in every single sentence. If you are legitimately asking the question "do you know what I mean?", and are legitimately seeking a response to verify that yes I do understand or no I do not, then it is okay. But, if you are just tagging it onto your sentence as filler, it grates on me. I want to respond with exasperation, "no, I don't know!!!".

"I was driving down my street, you know, when a stray dog ran out, and, you know, I had to stop so fast".

No, I don't know. Now that you've told me I do know you were driving down the street and had to stop fast for a stray dog, but before that I did not...you know? ;)

LOL! the Upspeak..also known as ending a statement with a question...

Exactly! She's beautiful and makes great food but her talking gets me angry LOL

Haha! She sure does. I noticed her too. I like what she cooks, but I can't listen to her for more than 5 minutes.

Wow, Tiffany! That would have also been Debbie Gibson and Madonna among others. Actually, I knew girls that spoke like "Valley Girls". I don't recall any guys really talking like TV or music stars, but one fad I do remember was the surfer talk. Only a few people I knew talked like this and they were beach bums/surfers. I think females are more susceptible to these types of influences, in general. But most males and females I knew pretty much spoke standard conversational English. I'm talking about the 80's, of course. Now, forget about it. Way to much TV and social networks and these bad speaking habits or fads spread like wild fire.

Genetically speaking, women are more susceptible to vocal influences than men. If you look for it, you'll notice that when visiting a foreign country, women will pick up accents more easily and faster than men. I learned that little tidbit in a women's study course in college...

Bitchiness due to your speech patterns. There. Study done.

or saying "really" all the time. Really? blah blah blah...

Nedski1, you're right on the money with this observation and I don't see how anyone who listens to NPR (guilty!) could have failed to notice that virtually all the young female talent for years now have exhibited this habit. It's as if they'd all been to a training camp together. It also seems to me that the habit is unusually prevalent among younger alumnae of management training programs. I wonder if croaking isn't a misguided product of some kind of counselling shtik that urges young women to try to lower the register of their voices as a way of compensating for perceived deficits in seniority or - heaven forbid! - masculinity. It would be a good approach if they knew how to exploit their chest voice, but to a woman they seem stuck in highly nasal, little-girl vocalization patterns. I'd sooner listen to Nancy S. any day.

Haha! I'mloving this. I see a lot of you have the same thoughts I've expressed to my wife about this type of speak. I told her when I was trying to explain it to her that it sounds like when you talk and are pushing out a "klinker" at the same time.

Yes. She has mastered both bad habits. She has the "question" sound at the ends of her sentences and the croaking sound throughout her sentences. As if one or the other wasn't annoying enough.

Good example.