Vocal fry, also known as "creaky voice," is a speech pattern characterized by a distinctive drop in pitch, typically at the end of sentences. It has long been associated with young women, with celebrities like Britney Spears often cited as examples. Spears famously used vocal fry in her 1998 hit, "Hit Me Baby (One More Time)." However, new research suggests this stereotype may be inaccurate.
Jeanne Brown, a graduate student at McGill University, presented experimental findings at the Acoustical Society of America’s meeting in Philadelphia this week. Her research indicates that men use vocal fry more often than women, though it is perceived as more prominent in young women.
Vocal fry is the lowest of the human vocal registers, alongside the modal, falsetto, and whistle registers. It occurs when the vocal cords slacken, causing irregular vibrations and an audible rattling or cracking sound as air is released in bursts. This register is defined by very low fundamental frequencies, typically around 70 Hz—well below the lowest range of human hearing, which starts at 20 Hz.
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