# Girls talking in baby voices. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131 "2007-07-01T17:23:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/21 "2007-07-02T00:30:59Z")
Backstage at SNL (late 80s), this was a real issue between Victoria Jackson and Jan Hooks, according to Jan. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/22 "2007-07-02T00:53:19Z")
[QUOTE=Licentious Ectomorph] All I know is that voice made my blood boil and inspired violent fantasies that disturbed even me. [/QUOTE] That’s damned disturbing whether we are talking sex or homicide fantasies. Er, which is it? ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/23 "2007-07-02T00:56:37Z")
I met someone like that at a conference a while ago and the baby voice definitely matched her appearance - plump, pretty china doll - but I don’t think it was contrived. I felt sorry for her especially when I overheard people (men, as it happens) making comments about her “silly little girl voice”. Within a couple of days I’d got used to it, but at first it was very noticeable. Once you got past that it was clear that she was an intelligent and serious professional, although it can’t be easy for her to be taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/24 "2007-07-02T01:22:07Z")
[QUOTE=Krokodil] Backstage at SNL (late 80s), this was a real issue between Victoria Jackson and Jan Hooks, according to Jan. [/QUOTE] I think I read a quote somewhere where Jan Hooks said, “You’re a grown woman! Use your lower register!” Whenever I hear someone talking like that I always think of poor Jan Hooks. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/25 "2007-07-02T01:31:56Z")
My neighbor, who works in a bank (what is it with these women and banks?) does this. I think it’s god awful. I also know a woman (post menopausal) who has the most irritating titter whenever she wants to say the least thing controversial. I have wanted to bitch slap her for many years. (she goes to my church, so that’s out…) ---
**Author:** ![chrissysissystar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5e9695/32.png) [@chrissysissystar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrissysissystar)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/26 "2007-07-02T01:46:43Z")
[QUOTE=Martha] I met someone like that at a conference a while ago and the baby voice definitely matched her appearance - plump, pretty china doll - but I don’t think it was contrived. I felt sorry for her especially when I overheard people (men, as it happens) making comments about her “silly little girl voice”. Within a couple of days I’d got used to it, but at first it was very noticeable. Once you got past that it was clear that she was an intelligent and serious professional, although it can’t be easy for her to be taken seriously. [/QUOTE] Couldn’t someone recommend a speech coach to a woman who honestly has a baby voice like that? Kathleen Turner didn’t get that voice from nature. I seem to remember an inverview (which I cannot find) where she talked about using erasers clenched between her back teeth to help stretch the area at the back of her throat. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/27 "2007-07-02T01:50:37Z")
[QUOTE=SurrenderDorothy] I’ve heard this theory before, but with a different spin. [/QUOTE] This theory was thrown about on Loveline a lot. Usually the girls with this type of voice went through more trauma at a younger age then the usual people who called the show. They would always call the girls out on it and they would fess up to the abuse. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/28 "2007-07-02T01:51:08Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] That’s damned disturbing whether we are talking sex or homicide fantasies. Er, which is it? [/QUOTE] What, they’re mutually exclusive? 😉 Seriously, it was most definitely NOT sex. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/29 "2007-07-02T01:53:21Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I think it’s god awful. I also know a woman (post menopausal) who has the most irritating titter whenever she wants to say the least thing controversial. I have wanted to bitch slap her for many years. (she goes to my church, so that’s out…) [/QUOTE] But, but, but… if you can’t bitch slap your co-religionists, who **can** you bitch slap? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/30 "2007-07-02T02:00:59Z")
Yeah, I used to listen to Loveline in high school and they always talked about that “little girl voice.” Right now, the one that is really annoying me is “Congratulations, you have been selected to win a free Ipod.” I can’t stand that. ---
**Author:** ![pprgrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@pprgrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pprgrl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/31 "2007-07-02T02:03:35Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] This theory was thrown about on Loveline a lot. Usually the girls with this type of voice went through more trauma at a younger age then the usual people who called the show. They would always call the girls out on it and they would fess up to the abuse. [/QUOTE] Shucks, I came in here to say that. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/32 "2007-07-02T02:07:19Z")
I don’t doubt that there are women with unusually high-pitched voices. But I also know there are ‘fakers’ (although some of them may be subconscious). About ten years ago, I dated a 28-year-old CPA whose voice raised an octave when she wanted me to do some chore, or when she was in the mood for sex. Gradually, these two situations became identical. 😃 I eventually told her that I couldn’t handle sex with someone who sounded five years old. ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/33 "2007-07-02T02:26:07Z")
Our administrative assistant has a voice like this, but only when she’s a) trying to wheedle something out of you b) talking to a man - any man of any age One afternoon a few weeks ago I worked late with her and she was on a rampage about a decision our board of directors made that impacts part of her job. Let me tell you, that woman can bitch and bellow/rant and rave with the best of us when she’s pissed and there is NO trace of baby girl sweet, cuddly, wuddly bullshit to be found. I just wish the BOD could’ve witnessed that little display … For her, it’s totally an act. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/34 "2007-07-02T02:31:35Z")
There is/was a lady who worked at the local medical clinic who would do the radio commercials announcing Clinical Research Studies and inviting people to participate, and she had the most annoying little-girl voice. And her name was Cookie. I’ve also noticed that women who teach early elementary school or Sunday School classes for preschool/elementary school-aged kids tend to talk like that when addressing a group of adults. It seems to be their “stand in front of a group and talk” voice. I wonder if Cookie started out as a pediatric nurse. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/35 "2007-07-02T02:40:13Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] But, but, but… if you can’t bitch slap your co-religionists, who **can** you bitch slap? [/QUOTE] You have a point. Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/36 "2007-07-02T03:02:15Z")
[QUOTE=chrissysissystar] Couldn’t someone recommend a speech coach to a woman who honestly has a baby voice like that? [/QUOTE] I just saw a commercial last week about a group of women who were getting help to lose their little girl voices. I have no idea what the outcome was, or even what show they were going to be on. I knew someone with a voice like this for awhile in college. No idea if it was real or not. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/37 "2007-07-02T04:50:06Z")
Ok, I’ll throw this wrench in the works. I was sexually, physically, mentally abused as a child. I’d rather rip out my own spleen than talk like a child. I did have a step-cousin who was an only child for about 5 years when her mother had twin boys. She regressed seriously after they were born, it was a triple whammy for her, boy, baby, twin! My mother divorced the step-father and I never found out if that kid ever got normal again, but it was very odd. She stopped talking like a normal kid and got all baby-ish. FWIW, I’d be very seriously disturbed by any guy who finds that little girl voice a turn on. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/38 "2007-07-02T04:52:35Z")
I’m sure many women purposefully use little-girl voices for purposes of manipulation, I’m sure it works with a lot of guys. I also suspect some women may have vocal cords and inflections that just don’t mature, I mean, arrested and/or otherwise abnormal development of various organs and whatnot is a well-known phenomenon among human beings, I don’t see why women’s voices should be a huge exception here. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/39 "2007-07-02T05:01:21Z")
I sound very young and have a higher pitched voice, and that is just natural for me. Now, I am nowhere near Victoria Jackson or Fran Drescher or anything, but it is still something that I have no control over. My sex voice is an octave lower though. I got made fun of by a stand up comedian a couple of weeks ago on my birthday because of my voice actually. Some of us cant help it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131/40 "2007-07-02T06:46:42Z")
That kind of voice is permissible only when speaking to a puppy. A very young puppy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-talking-in-baby-voices/410131.md?page=3)