Vocal Fry, Uptalk, and Overuse of LIKE and LITERALLY - Annoying Speech Habits?

In today’s intermediate+ level video related to linguistics, I talk about several affectations that are commonly in modern English, particularly, it would seem, by young women: vocal fry, uptalk, and overuse words like “like” and “literally.”

A colleague pointed out some spelling mistakes I made, so this is a re-upload. Let me know if YOU find any booboos (I do make them!)

Vocal fry happens at the ends of words and phrases when a speaker’s vocal chords relax, giving the voice a kind of creaky quality (a bit like something frying in a pan). Uptalk, is the rising intonation that makes statements sound like questions. Overuse of words like “like” and “literally” can give the impression that the speaker is inarticulate.

These speech patterns might seem harmless, but can actually irritate some listeners to the point where they get angry and automatically withhold respect of the persion who is using them. The use of vocal fry by women is criticised as a put-on (fake) sexy, femme-fatale affectation. Uptalk makes a statement sound uncertain and makes the speaker seem weak. Also, since higher voices are characteristic of children, using uptalk seems like a voluntary abdication (release; giving up) of authority. Both of these patterns together, along with over use of certain words, are beleieved by some to be “an epidemic of ‘sexy baby voice’.”

0:00 Introduction
0:24 What Vocal Fry is
1:57 Why Vocal Fry is a problem
2:43 The Kardashians and other examples
6:53 Vocal Fry used by men
7:35 Vocal Fry in Finnish
8:25 Why Vocal Fry in women treated with disdain
11:09 What Uptalk is
11:25 Uptalk examples
12:13 Why people speak with Uptalk
13:40 "Like" & examples
14:43 How "Like" is used
16:20 "Literally" & examples
18:26 "Literally" misuse?
20:17 "Vally Girl" talk
22:43 Should you learn these patterns?
23:55 How to get rid of these patterns (if you want to)

Links/ References:

Valley Girl music video with Frank and Moon Zappa:    • Frank Zappa, Moon Zappa - Valley Girl  

The article mentioned in the video: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journa...

Why do girls have creaky voices? (Stuff Mom Never Told You):
   • Why do girls have creaky voices?  

Stop Staying Literally (BuzzFeedVideo):
   • STOP SAYING LITERALLY  

I give much gratitude to Dr. Geoff Lindsey for the work he had already done on the topic of vocal fry and the many clips I used that he had already compiled in his video, which I highly recommend watching if you want to get more information about vocal fry delivered in native British English:    • Vocal Fry: what it is, who does it, and wh...  

Music provided by Chillhop Music: https://chillhop.ffm.to/creatorcred