Her high, piercing voice became a source of consistent laughs. Think of Lina Lamont, the character from “ Singin’ in the Rain” memorably played by Jean Hagen. In movies and on TV, characters with high-pitched voices are often portrayed as comical, dim-witted and generally undesirable. I’ve encountered directors and producers with significant distaste for higher-pitched women’s voices, especially when this pitch range is combined with nasal resonance. In my role as a theatrical voice coach, I’m sometimes asked to help women actors lower their voices. Doing so creates a longer space above the larynx, which boosts the deeper, darker tones in the voice. Holmes might adjust her resonance by consciously lowering the larynx. It is likely the singular nature of Holmes’ voice is related not only to its low pitch, but also its resonance, the unique tonal quality and placement of the voice. These shorter, thicker folds vibrate at a lower frequency, resulting in a lower-pitched voice, just as a thicker or more lax guitar string has a lower pitch. Imagine decreasing tension on a rubber band. Ethan Swope/Getty ImagesĮngaging a tiny laryngeal muscle called the thyroarytenoid causes the vocal folds, which are housed inside the larynx (or “voice box”), to relax and become shorter and thicker. courthouse after testifying in her defense in November 2021. So what is the physiological process at play when someone intentionally lowers their voice?Įlizabeth Holmes leaves a San Jose, Calif. There are also wonderful resources available for gender-affirming voice support for transgender people. Whether they’re concerned about their voice range or simply seeking skills to become better communicators, the voice is resilient and can be developed with training. There are all sorts of reasons people seek voice therapy or coaching to address vocal insecurities. There are also several voice disorders that impact pitch range. Holmes’ young age at the time she became known for her voice may rule out an age-related hormonal voice change, but a similar effect could be found with certain hormone therapy. Women’s voices tend to decrease in pitch range during menopause. Hormones directly impact the voice, including pitch and the perception of roughness or hoarseness. But since I can’t definitively answer if Holmes’ voice changed intentionally, it is worth considering what natural or medical processes could cause a similar effect. Only a clinician like a laryngologist can make a voice-related medical diagnosis. At the same time, people who know Holmes have claimed that she changed her voice in order to cultivate a persona as a Silicon Valley wunderkind. And dramatic, sustained pitch changes in speech can be associated with heightened emotional states without indicating a put-on voice.
However, it could have been easily edited. During this interview with Elizabeth Holmes, commenters highlight a vocal switch between the 1:28 and 2:08 marks.
0 kommentar(er)
