The method of singing and talking called a “vocal fry” (creaking, approx. “Fried voice”) is a relatively new phenomenon. It is also often called “strowbass” (“Stroh” – straw) and “edge sound”. The reception is based on a particular type of voice formation, with the laryngeal cartilage connecting, preventing the passage of air through the ringing of the vocal cords, as when diluted form a sound, known as “laryngeal closure” (Gillespie). A continuous series of such frequent closures of a soft stream of air and vocal fry may be very similar to the sound of a door creaking or the croaking of a duck or a voice that “wakes up” early in the morning. This sound is formed due to the particular soft state of the vocal cords and not due to a constricted throat, and this is important for beginners to understand.
Vocal fry is used not only as a technique in extreme vocals but also as a way of relaxation. During the vocal fry exercises, the so-called false ligaments are involved, not the vocal ones. Vocals usually use such a “squeak” at the beginning of a phrase or word and vocals of a difficult year, on the contrary, in the endings, creating the effect of a tired voice (Gillespie). In the class of pop vocal, this technique is used not only as an ornament but also as an exercise during vocal lessons (especially popular among defensive vocal teachers and the vocalists themselves). Adele, Katy Perry, the Kardashians are some of the prominent representatives of vocal fry nowadays.
Reports in the media have detailed the vocal fry. Some people tell us that this is bad for our vocal cords and that females who employ vocal fry are putting their careers in jeopardy (Chao, Bursten). Vocal fry is not harmful to your vocal folds, contrary to what some speech pathologists believe. In reality, vocal fry is a unique phonetic element in languages like Danish and Vietnamese, and deleting it would be the equivalent of removing a vowel or consonant from a word in English. It is a natural vocal quality, particularly at the end of sentences when the speaker’s airflow tends to decrease.
There is no indication that vocal fry is growing more widespread among today’s English speakers, despite the increased media attention. More significantly, there is no evidence that women use vocal fry more frequently than males or that vocal fry is intrinsically irritating. Moreover, vocal fry is a valuable tool for singers with different tones and types of vocal, as well as for the beginners who are developing their vocal cords.
Because it stimulates the muscles that cover the vocal folds, vocal fry is commonly associated with breathing and a “lack of chest” vocal tone. When these folds come together, the breathing tone will be significantly reduced. Singers who have battled to be heard, to sound louder in dramatic songs, or to establish a “chest voice” can make significant progress in the short term by doing a small amount of training sessions every day (Gillespie). On the other hand, vocalists who are already rich in the low register or have trouble going into falsetto should be cautious since vocal fry to seal the vocal folds might worsen.
Vocal fry, in general, are not detrimental to the health of your voice. Vocal fry is a voice usage pattern that does not hurt your voice, whether you use it or not. From a medical point of view, it does not appear to be dangerous or harmful to the health – as long as it is relaxed and comfortable for the person using it (Gillespie). Vocal fry, on the other hand, can induce vocal fatigue – and that persons who use vocal fry, who talk forcefully, speak loudly, and use their voices frequently (like teachers, professors, and trainers do), have significantly increased their risk of vocal chord damage.
The threats from the vocal fry usage, however, are reflected in the other spheres – mainly social. People who use vocal fry are thought to be less educated, less competent, less beautiful, and less trustworthy in the United States than those who do not use vocal fry when speaking (Cammenga). Various studies have also revealed that women have a higher unfavorable assessment of vocal fry than males (Chao, Bursten). Another popular idea is that women should avoid employing vocal fry speaking whenever feasible if they wish to increase their work possibilities.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where language is linked to stereotypes, with some accents being associated with wealth and others with illiteracy. In the media, vocal fry hysteria is raging, and people are being blamed and shamed for using it. However, vocal fry remains an extremely important tool for vocal teachers and singers who are trying to maximize their voice cords possibilities. Moreover, vocal fry is natural for some languages, and trying to get rid of it is similar to denouncing one of the languages of the Earth. Vocal fry representatives are famous people and superstars, such as Adele and Katy Perry, who have millions of fans around the world. How, then, can we denounce and shame vocal fry?
Works Cited
Cammenga, Kaleigh Susan. The Effect of Vocal Fry on Speech Intelligibility. Michigan State University, 2018.
Chao, Monika, and Julia RS Bursten. “Girl Talk: Understanding Negative Reactions to Female Vocal Fry.” Hypatia 36.1 (2021): 42-59.
Gillespie, Todd. “Vocal Fry: Relevance in the Training of a Classical Voice.” (2021).