Does the New "This Is NPR" Voice Have Vocal Fry? Judge For Yourself

[Michelle420]

NPR introduced listeners yesterday to Sabrina Farhi, the woman who beginning next month will be the one delivering such familiar lines as "Support for NPR comes from…" and (the even more well-known) "This [pause] is NPR." You can hear her introduce herself below. Almost immediately after the clip was sent around the Slate office the debate began: Does the new voice of NPR have vocal fry?! Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter.

[ame=http://youtu.be/YEqVgtLQ7qM]"Vocal fry" speaking with Faith Salie - YouTube[/ame]

New NPR voice: Does the new "This Is NPR" voice have vocal fry? Listen for yourself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/s...rs-in-vocal-patterns.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

[daveman]

Announcer ProFile: 'All Things Considered, This Is A Dream Career' : This Is NPR : NPR

Her announcing voice seems to be a little more professional than her regular speaking voice.

"Vocal fry", huh? I always just called it "annoying as hell".

 

[Michelle420]

Announcer ProFile: 'All Things Considered, This Is A Dream Career' : This Is NPR : NPR

Her announcing voice seems to be a little more professional than her regular speaking voice.

"Vocal fry", huh? I always just called it "annoying as hell".

Me and my friend were trying to make the "sound" and just couldn't

 

[daveman]

Announcer ProFile: 'All Things Considered, This Is A Dream Career' : This Is NPR : NPR

Her announcing voice seems to be a little more professional than her regular speaking voice.

"Vocal fry", huh? I always just called it "annoying as hell".

Me and my friend were trying to make the "sound" and just couldn't

I think it's due to a combination of speaking at a frequency almost too low for your larynx to produce and your airway being relaxed. It's almost a whine, only less nasal.

If you speak clearly, as a professional announcer does, you can feel your airway open up.