From Slate’s *Lexicon Valley*, [an episode](http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2013/01/lexicon_valley_on_creaky_voice_or_vocal_fry_in_young_american_women.html) about a vocal affection in young, “upwardly mobile” American women. It’s called **creaky voice**, and it describes a speaker using staccato bursts in the back of the throat. It’s raspy, deep and quite familiar.
The “creaking” sound grates on the ears of NPR veteran, Bob Garfield. **But when played to American college women, it conveys professionalism, urbanism and a woman whose career is on the rise.**
Listen to this example from a Deutsche Bank interview series, especially the first speaker, a managing director named Jane. **Nearly all the women in this video creak.**
The explanation given in *Lexicon Valley* is that the creaky affection **lowers the voice’s pitch, making it sound deeper.** And a deeper voice can be beneficial, especially in the workplace.
Take for example Marget Thatcher. Her high notes were [“dangerous to passing sparrows”](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/subliminal/201205/how-we-are-judged-our-voice-in-dating-and-the-workplace). Upon the recommendation of her advisers, **she lowered her pitch and moved up the ranks to eventually become prime minister.**
Soooooo maaaaaybe there is something to aaaaaall this creaking?
From Slate’s *Lexicon Valley*, [an episode](http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley/2013/01/lexicon_valley_on_creaky_voice_or_vocal_fry_in_young_american_women.html) about a vocal affection in young, “upwardly mobile” American women. It’s called **creaky voice**, and it describes a speaker using staccato bursts in the back of the throat. It’s raspy, deep and quite familiar.
The “creaking” sound grates on the ears of NPR veteran, Bob Garfield. **But when played to American college women, it conveys professionalism, urbanism and a woman whose career is on the rise.**
Listen to this example from a Deutsche Bank interview series, especially the first speaker, a managing director named Jane. **Nearly all the women in this video creak.**
(via [CNBC](http://www.cnbc.com/id/46561474/Wall_Street_Women_Invented_lsquoVocal_Fryrsquo))
The explanation given in *Lexicon Valley* is that the creaky affection **lowers the voice’s pitch, making it sound deeper.** And a deeper voice can be beneficial, especially in the workplace.
Take for example Marget Thatcher. Her high notes were [“dangerous to passing sparrows”](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/subliminal/201205/how-we-are-judged-our-voice-in-dating-and-the-workplace). Upon the recommendation of her advisers, **she lowered her pitch and moved up the ranks to eventually become prime minister.**
Soooooo maaaaaybe there is something to aaaaaall this creaking?