This is not about hearing voices that aren’t there - to most people - but about voices that we all do hear. Do we hear them in exactly the same way? Maybe. But we all know for sure that they all differ in major and minor ways. Human voice is actually a very interesting subject to study. Here is one.
Our own voices sound different to us than to others, that we know. And it seems like many of us do not much care for our own voices heard from outside, for example watching a family video. Why is that? Is it because we are so accustomed to our own voice heard from within? And from within, it just sounds somehow better, more mellow, more attractive.
And even if there is something in our own voices that we find something to criticize about, like being too high pitch, too girlish, too masculine, too loud, too silent, or whatever, we still tend to appreciate it more when heard from within ourselves.
Also, does our own voice or the voices we were surrounded by as a child play a role here? Are we more drawn to and attracted by certain types of voices because of that?
Okay, then the voices that this article actually wants to concentrate on - the human voice in general. The immense and surprisingly varied width, depth and individuality of it! We all resonate differently, and even if and when we ourselves never learn to appreciate our own voices, we are identified by them. Some voices you fall in love at first hearing, some you never learn to like. Are there voices out there that we all like irrespective of our own voice? And how much exactly has that got to do with the popularity of a person?
Let’s take an example. Morgan Freeman. Now don’t we all like his voice?! And not just like, but really savor it, look forward to hearing it? Do we look forward it more because we know it belongs to him? Or would we want to hear it as much even if we didn’t know it was his voice?
Peter Benson. The English actor, who also was a talented singer. Or another Peter, Peter Sallis. Also English, who voiced Wallace in Wallace & Gromit. Two wonderful voices. But again, is it so for all of us? Maybe it goes as with languages. Many of us posed with the question “what is the most beautiful language in the world” would answer “French”. But the answer is totally dependent on who we are and where we are from.
If you are born into a family with husky voices, you would most probably prefer darker voices in both men and women. Just like being around dark-haired people feels more familiar to you if you and your siblings are of that color too - and therefore you might sympathize with them more, merely due to the familiarity.
Tempo is also a factor. Speaking slowly, you get to articulate more clearly, which to many of us sounds way better and more comfortable than having to listen to someone talking quickly. Take for example the American actor John Malkovich playing the role of Inspector Javert in the French 2000 television mini series Les Misérables. Malkovich is known for his distinctive voice, which The Guardian once described as “wafting, whispery, and reedy”. He also happens to be fluent in French, but the way he articulates the French in Les Misérables is pure music to one’s ears!
Then again, not necessarily everybody would think so.
But whether we are born to a family of dark voices or not, our life style or the events in our lives may change our voice towards that direction. The low-pitched voice is particularly favored in commercials out to instill confidence in the product, and who isn’t impressed with some of the radio voices out there that we hear.
According to a 2016 survey in Great Britain with the title What makes a great radio voice?, the researchers found that the top two in the list were Scottish voices (think of Sean Connery!). People just seem to like Scottish speakers for “they have a musicality that appeals to your listening brain”. If women want to make it in the business, they often tend to lower their voice to sound more appealing and convincing. But worldwide, a deep voice seems to instill trust, ease and aminity.
Finally, here is a list of some of those deep, dark and distinctive male voices. Actors with iconic voices. With a YouTube clip from somewhere. And a few others. Followed by a few equally distinctive female voices. Try to listen to the audio only.
Peter Benson - Sean Connery 4 - Clint Eastwood5 - Henry Fonda - Morgan Freeman 1 - Jeremy Irons8 - James Earl Jones 2 - Liam Neeson - Conan O’Brien - Al Pacino10 - Vincent Price6 - Alan Rickman7 - Peter Sallis - Arnold Schwarzenegger9 - Christopher Walken3 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkCXFn1HB0w
xxx