# What is the most annoying sound a human voice can make?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-sound-a-human-voice-can-make/317585>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 18, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-sound-a-human-voice-can-make/317585 "2005-08-18T14:46:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-sound-a-human-voice-can-make/317585/61 "2005-08-21T11:40:19Z")

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> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?
> 
> That sound is not a word. It’s a noise made when you are trying to vomit.
> 
> A close second is the incessant giggling of adolescent girls. I’d rather hear fingernails on a blackboard.

The seven-year-old screech sends me right through the floor. Jesus…I just want to throttle 'em.

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**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-sound-a-human-voice-can-make/317585/62 "2005-08-21T15:51:50Z")

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> [@Cartooniverse](#):
>
> Oh god. I read that as " felch Me My Foot Cream!" and about died.
> 
> :eek:

There are very few women I’d do that for. But there _are_ a few.

Anyway, back to annoying human sounds. I got one:  
**The raised voice used by low-level service functionaries when relaying repetitious instructions to large crowds.** Without exception they end up sounding as pissed off as they no doubt are, having to repeat “PUTCHA LAPTOPS INNA BASKET! LAY YO BAG FLAT ONNA BELT!” all day to seething masses of humanity. 2 minutes of this at Newark “Liberty” International Airport will make you feel like you’re being in-processed at Great Lakes Naval Station.

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**Author:** ![Elmo\_Lincoln](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Elmo\_Lincoln](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmo_Lincoln)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-sound-a-human-voice-can-make/317585/63 "2005-08-21T17:48:51Z")

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Victory cry of the bull ape.

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-sound-a-human-voice-can-make/317585/64 "2005-08-21T18:56:48Z")

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> [@tdn](#):
>
> Yeah, it’s more like down-talk. On the last syllable of a question, the pitch of the voice lowers by about a minor 3rd. It sounds vaguely British.

That sounds like the sharp final declination that is the _usual_ cue for ‘I’m finished speaking now, it’s your turn,’ in non-interrogative speech. (Margaret Thatcher was _continually_ interrupted at press conferences because her artificially-acquired accent placed this cue at the end of every sentence. Very frustrating.)

As for doing this with questions, that would be particularly annoying because we associate a rising tone, in general, with interest, engagement, and anticipation.

Someone who speaks this way is likely to project, to some degree, the feeling that they have low expectations for what’s about to come out of your mouth, and that they’re not really interested in it.

Yeah, that could rankle.

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