More than just your food can fry; your voice can fry too. Vocal fry occurs when the voice gets groggy and raspy at the end of a statement. This newer fad can express a lack of confidence, disinterest, or uncertainty in your message. However, it is also becoming more and more apparent in popular culture. Check out this Windows Phone commercial with singer Gwen Stefani to hear an example of vocal fry http://goo.gl/UnFI7
Have no fear; just like your diet, you can also change your speaking habits. While it is true that a downward inflection at the end of a statement is desirable for making your statement sound more factual; the gravelly sound when you lose breath support diminishes the effectiveness of your speech. Maintaining your volume and breath control through the last word of your utterances increases your chances of sounding professional as you climb your career ladder. Pair this strategy with confidence and you’ll be able to hear a difference.
To see if you’re a victim of vocal fry, call your own voice-mail and leave yourself a message. Say something that you might say to a coworker or boss several times throughout the day (vocal fry is often most prevalent when one is tired). Use this test and see whether you could use some improvement. Good luck!
