It’s the raspy, low voice synonymous with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Julia Fox.
But ‘vocal fry’ – characterised by dragging out certain syllables during a sentence – is also used by whales and dolphins to catch prey, researchers have found.
A new study reveals that marine mammals such as the sperm whale, killer whale, oceanic dolphins and porpoises have evolved an air-driven nasal sound with distinct similarities to a certain American drawl.
Until now, it has remained a mystery how these animals – known as toothed whales – produce sound that can travel far and fast in murky and dark waters, up to 2km deep.
Scientists from Denmark recorded sounds made by both trained dolphins and animals in the wild.
‘Vocal fry’ is used by whales and dolphins to catch prey, researchers have found. Pictured: an MRI scan of a porpoise
Many celebrities, like Kim Kardashian (pictured), Paris Hilton and Julia Fox, speak with ‘vocal fry’ – a raspy, low voice that drags out certain syllables
They discovered these animals, like humans, have at least three vocal registers – the vocal fry register, also known as creaky voice, which produces the lowest tones, the chest register, which is similar to our normal speaking voice, and the falsetto register which produces even higher frequencies.
Study lead Professor Coen Elemans, a voice scientist at the University of Southern Denmark, said: ‘Vocal fry is a normal voice register that is often used in American English.
‘Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry and Scarlet Johannsen are well-known people using this register.’
Examples of vocal fry in humans would be saying: ‘Oh my gaaaaawd’ or ‘shut uuuuup’.
According to the new research, published in the journal Science, certain whales and dolphins use this vocal fry register to produce their echolocation calls to catch prey.
And when using vocal fry, the vocal cords are only open for a very short time – meaning the animals use very little breathing air in the process.
Professor Peter Madsen, from Aarhus University in Denmark, said: ‘This air-economy makes it especially ideal for echolocation.
‘During deep dives, all air is compressed to a tiny fraction of the volume on the surface.’
When toothed whales hunt in deep and murky water they produce short, powerful, ultrasonic echolocation clicks at rates up to 700 per second to locate, track and catch prey.
Like humans, whales and dolphins have at least three vocal registers – the vocal fry register, also known as creaky voice, which produces the lowest tones, the chest register, which is similar to our normal speaking voice, and the falsetto register which produces even higher frequencies
Marine mammals such as the sperm whale, killer whale (stock image), oceanic dolphins and porpoises have evolved an air-driven nasal sound with distinct similarities to a certain American drawl
‘Vocal fry allows whales access to the richest food niches on earth – the deep ocean’, Professor Madsen added.
‘While vocal fry may be controversial in humans and may be perceived as everything from annoying to authoritative, it doubtlessly made toothed whales an evolutionary success story.’
The Danish team also discovered what exactly goes on when whales produce sound.
The animals have evolved an air-driven sound production system in their nose, which allows for much higher driving pressures – up to five times what a trumpet player can generate – without damaging lung tissues.
Study lead Professor Coen Elemans, a voice scientist at the University of Southern Denmark, said: ‘Vocal fry is a normal voice register that is often used in American English.’ Pictured: Julia Fox speaks with vocal fry
This high driving pressure allows toothed whales to make the loudest sounds of any animal on the planet.
When echolocating, the animals pressurise air in their nose and let it pass structures called phonic lips that vibrate just like human vocal folds.
Their acceleration produces sound waves that travel through the skull to the front of the head.
As well as echolocation, toothed whales use their chest and falsetto registers for complex social communication.
The findings were presented at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington.
Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Julia Fox could be in for a rude awakening! Women who speak with husky ‘vocal fry’ are seen as less intelligent and attractive, study finds
Many celebrities, like Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Julia Fox, speak with ‘vocal fry’ – a raspy, low voice that drags out certain syllables.
The low drawl is a common way of speaking in California, but has been picked up across the world thanks to the popularity of American media.
Unfortunately for those who’ve adopted the accent, a new study has found that women who speak with it are seen as less intelligent and attractive.
However, the University of Florida researchers did not find any difference in the impression it gave when used by men.
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A new study has found that women who speak with vocal fry are seen as less intelligent and attractive. Pictured: Average attractiveness ratings for people with and without vocal fry
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