High-Throated Voice

Hi,

Would you help me understand what "high-throated voice" mean? Is it high-pitched voice? Yes, that would be my interpretation, too. But it's an odd expression. One would normally say 'high-pitched', as you observe. A 'throaty voice' usually refers to a deep, husky voice.

Have you ever heard the famous, old-time movie star,Marlene Deitrich

Hi.

I thought so too, Clive. Throaty should be associated with coarse, deep sound. I can't really imagine a tinny and throaty voice. They don't go along.

Many thanks, Clive.

Hiro/ Sendai, Japan

It seems possible to emit a low sound from high in the throat. It sounds like someone in pain.

MrP

Hi.

What do you mean by "from high in the throat," MrPedantic?

Hiro/ Sendai, Japan

Hello HSS

I expect "high-pitched" is the correct interpretation, as Clive has said.

But if you place your finger and thumb on each side of your throat, just beneath the jawbone, and then attempt to emit a sound from that point, you can make a low-pitched groaning sound.

MrP

Oh, so "high" here refers to a high position in the throat, not to high in tone, or pitch, you might think as well as high in pitch, right?

Hiro

Well, if I found the phrase in a piece of otherwise carefully written prose, I would assume that the author meant something special by "high-throated", i.e. "proceeding from high in the throat".

If I found it anywhere else, e.g. on a website, I would assume that the writer meant "high-pitched".

MrP

Hi,

But if you place your finger and thumb on each side of your throat, just beneath the jawbone, and then attempt to emit a sound from that point, you can make a low-pitched groaning sound.

Yes, I usually do that when asked again to explain the perfect tenses.

Clive

MrPedantic
"proceeding from high in the throat".

I think this, too.

References are hard to find, but this from a book on Kinesthetic Ventures:

Bringing sound forward enables actors to “let the sounds sing for themselves,” to allow “the minutest details, modulations, shadings

Hi guys,

Yes, I think most people can make this particular sound. I notice that in a grammar discussion, when I get my hands around someone's throat in that way, they seem to make this sound quite easily.

Clive