Oh, The Voice...?
Gay male speech has been the focus of numerous modern stereotypes, as well as sociolinguistic studies, particularly within North American English. Scientific research has uncovered phonetically significant features produced by many gay men and demonstrated that listeners accurately guess speakers' sexual orientation at rates greater than chance. Historically, gay male speech characteristics have been highly stigmatized, so that such features were often reduced in certain settings, such as the workplace.
Research does not support the notion that gay speech entirely adopts mainstream feminine speech characteristics — rather, that it selectively adopts some of those features.
I think I may have a 'gay' voice. At least that's what I was told when I was around thirteen. At least according to that definition of Gay Male Speech I found on wikipedia. You would have to ask Huntley, though. He'd be the only one here that would know...
BTW, if you've never thought about having a 'gay voice' count your blessings. That means you 'pass'. At least on the phone.
XOXO
HuntleyBiGuy:
ReplyDeleteThat’s a lot of information. I found it interesting how people (straight and gay) change their voice depending on the situation. I also found it interesting about the gay lisp being more of the prolonged “s” sound then the “th” sound.
Since I’ve only been with you in a non-professional environment, I can confirm that you have a gay voice, though I wouldn’t call it a pronounced one. And it’s just another thing that makes you so lovable and charming.
XOXO 👨🏼❤️💋👨🏽
And when someone is yelling out in ecstasy from getting fucked, who cares right?!? LMAO!!!!!!!
DeleteHuntleyBiGuy: That goes without saying, Maddie. 😉
DeleteHahaha
DeleteThanx, babes. I also think I have a 'gay' voice. Not that I really care, to tell you the truth. Not like I've been in the closet...
And Mads is correct.
XOXO
Interesting video! I would have been interested in hearing more about the lesbian studies, though. I've never noticed any distinctive "lesbian voice," I must say.
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree.
DeleteBut the thing is with lesbians (especially butch lesbians) is that the voice is not such a giveaway, it's the mannerisms and attitude what people focus on. Don't you think??
I have a lesbian friend and if you hear her, you'd think she's a Harajuku girl. Nothing further than the truth.
XOXO
I do think gay men articulate more; I know I do.
ReplyDeleteBut everyone, gay and straight, speaks differently based on the person to whom they are speaking, be it friends, co-workers or strangers.
As a young queerling on the phone, I would get the "Yes ma'am" response and be highly offended, but then my voice changed and that ended. Thankfully.
xoxo
Oh, but that's more code switching and register.
DeleteI think gay voice more related to tone, though, and intonation. In my voice, it's the tone and the delivery what give me away. My gay self can get very campy, too. I don't do sibilants, but I can extend that yaaasss.
XOXO
Big says,
ReplyDeleteBob is right. Everyone uses a different manner of speaking based on who they're talking to because we present ourselves differently in different situation. It's quite normal. Also, like Bob, on the phone I was often mistaken for my mother. That changed with puberty.
I am ***still*** assumed to be gay based on voice pitch, and I guess my articulation. But that precise pronunciation, my dears, is from being trained for the stage.
XOXO
Right.
DeleteWe all code-switch. But this is more about how people perceive your voice: it's more about the pitch and the intonation. Also, some gay men can work those /s/ sound like it's nobody's business.
Actors have the best voices.
XOXO
I have a lot of voices. You just end up doing that when you're an actor. The first time I was made aware of 'gay voice' was actually on stage during a performance. For our senior class play, we were doing a murder mystery and I played a flamboyant film director 1930's style - cigarette holder, silk scarf, beret, etc. I thought I was doing a sophisticated voice, being very droll, very Noel Coward... I finished a little monologue and there was a pause waiting for someone to pick up their cue, when someone in the audience yelled 'faggot' - a fellow classmate. You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone froze and the moment felt like an eternity. I was mortified. And that's when I learned about 'gay voice' which I have... so suck it. I'd rather have gay voice than be an ignorant asshole who yells 'faggot' in the middle of a play. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteOhh
DeleteLOVE that story! And yes, some men have a very marked radar for anything gay (while claiming to be straight): they will get that drop of 'gay' in another guy's voice from across a crowded theater.
You know what they say about homophobes...
XOXO
I have a very animated voice and let me tell you I can articulate with the best of baritones, which is something they didn't touch on. I speak in a very low register, so even though it's animated, most people don't associate it with being gay.
ReplyDeleteOh, your voice is animated, but it's very deep.
DeleteMy voice is animated and much higher. Hence the gay.
XOXO
I have been told I do and don't sound gay. I think my voice sounds gay girl...... And who cares. I'm sure we would love you for the way you are Six. In my head, I picture you with a sexy voice.
ReplyDeleteHuntleyBiGuy: Absolutely.
DeleteI guess it depends on the person?
DeleteI know people who don't even blink when they meet me. But I have had people turning around at parties trying to locate me when I speak.
Aww Mads. You say the nicest things!!!
XOXO