Vocal fry is a creaky sound that many of us make at the end of a sentence (at least occasionally), and some people use throughout their speech (the Kardashians brought this into the limelight). A lot of people consider it unprofessional and problematic, but is it?
What is fry?
Vocal fry (named thusly because someone once thought it sounded like bacon popping in a pan as it fries) is a low-pitched, low-volume sound made with relaxed vocal cords and low airflow. It sounds scratchy, creaky, or rough.
Who uses fry?
Most people use it occasionally. I notice it in my own voice when I am tired, or sick, or sometimes just at the ends of sentences when I’m relaxed.
Some people use it a lot, either throughout all of their speech or at the end of every phrase. It is used by all genders, but it is most commonly associated with young women.
Is fry harmful?
It used to be assumed that fry is harmful to the vocal cords, but it really isn’t. In fact, it is often used in voice therpy tool to treat certain voice disorders.
And to take it a step further, it is deliberately used for artistic effect in many styles of singing (I’m looking at you, Norah Jones), and in singing lessons to help train specific breath maneuvers. It can also be used for effect in speaking performances (i. e., acting, audiobook narration, advertising, podcasts) using a microphone.
So what’s the problem?
A genuine potential issue is that you can’t project fry (it is by nature quiet and relaxed). So it isn’t effective for anything other than soft speech.
Beyond that, common criticisms are that fry sounds “unprofessional” or just plain “annoying”. Let’s unpack that a little.
Is fry annoying?
That is obviously a subjective answer. To some, the scratchy sound is irritating. To others, it is just normal. There are some young women who use this mode of speech a lot, and it’s how they communicate with each other. So “annoying” is in the ear of the beholder.
Is fry unprofessional?
It depends on the culture of the workplace. On the one hand, I am not in favor of policing anyone’s voice and speech, particularly women. At the same time, I do see why fry can be negatively perceived in a business setting.
For one, it lacks power. The corporate culture of the US is fairly masculine in its energy, so power, authority, gravitas, strength, etc. are typically valued in business communication.
Perhaps even more significant is that the nature of the sound production is very low-energy, and it can give a sense of an underlying lack of commitment to what is being said. The speaker is literally not using enough breath and energy to get the vocal cords to vibrate normally, which might be perceived as a lack of commitment or interest (even if this is not at all the case).
A final consideration is authenticity (another important piece of business communication). While fry may feel authentic in that it is habitual and therefore reflects your typical behavior, it does not necessarily convey that authenticity to listeners. Most communication occurs via tone of voice, and fry effectively eliminates that because everything sounds the same, masking the underlying thoughts and feelings. It can therefore feel to the listener like the speaker is hiding (so, not authentic).
So is it bad or not?
Like so many things, this depends on context. If you and your peer group use this vocal mode as a way of communicating, there is nothing wrong with that. If your work environment (and goals) are relatively relaxed, no problem.
If, however, the cultural norms associated with much of the corporate/business culture are part of your world, you may want to code switch. Meaning you could use a stronger, fuller, more resonant voice at work and do whatever you want at home. You can peruse the 50+ blog posts here for tips on how to do that if you wish.
The bottom line is that voice is for expression, communication, and connection. How we navigate that terrain is a dynamic and personal journey. My personal opinion is that the human voice is rich and versatile, and I support using it all.
If you’d like some personal guidance around fry or anything else relating to voice and speech, and presence, reach out for a session.
