Language and voice

[anjaq]

I have also the tendency to sound different in different languages. I read an atricle recently that says, even your presonality expression changes when using different languages. Speaking english, I am more open and expressive, use mor voice melody, am more extrovert. Using German , I am more sarcastic, introvert, speak more monotonous and at a lower pitch by about 15 Hz on average. I read that also if you use french, the attitude also changes. There wa a study done on the average pitch of women in different cultures and it varies greatly. German women have on average 20 Hz lower pitch than american women and they have a lower average than Japanese women.

[Annushka]

That's very interesting, anjaq! Thanks!

I'd love to research it deeper! 

[anjaq]

Here is the article
https://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/~trouvain/Andreeva_et_al_2014.pdf


and this is why out jobs or situations determine pitch as well - especially if you have a job in leadership or a competitive environment , the pitch tends to drop because this signals competence and strength:
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2012/03/06/rspb.2012.0311.short

[Annushka]

Thank you!! 

[Layn]

oh wow this IS an old topic i didn't expect to get a notification from!

So after 5 years I have to say that yeah english is easiest. German works mostly fine and I don't worry about it anymore, but definitely not that feminine. Portuguese however... maybe it's the language, maybe it's because i rarely speak it among other portuguese speaking people, but it makes me really uncomfortable. I can't really deal well with my voice in portuguese in public. I do it, duh, but it could be better.
I agree. Individual training per language is really a must, since you have to focus on different aspects, and also simply because you need to get used to it.

[LiliFee]

Here we go... Finally something that's really up my alley   I'm both transgender and a linguist, so this is kinda my area of expertise.

What it comes down to is the following: there is increasing evidence that the brain actually produces multiple personalities for each language spoken. That means there's a whole referential framework for each language you speak, which also influences gender and gendered speech production.

And since you shouldn't take my word for it: here' the paper I'm quoting.

What this means, is that you will have to work on EACH of these different personalities that are invoked when speaking another language. Each and every one of them has to be adjusted, and working on the one doesn't necessarily change the other.

Me, I speak English, German, Dutch and French. The first three fluently, and my French is quite good, too. But since I don't use it that often (say: pre-transition was the last time I really got to used it more than a day in a row), my French still sounds quite masculine. This in the contrary to the other three languages, I use them on a daily basis and they've each been adjusted.

Cool, eh? Gotta love the human brain