Does whispering use your vocal cords? This is a common question. Whispering is a form of soft, unvoiced speech, distinct from our everyday speaking voice. It allows us to communicate quietly, but its mechanism differs significantly from normal speech production.
How We Produce Normal Sounds
Normal, voiced sounds originate in the larynx, often called the voice box. Within the larynx are the vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, which are pliable tissues stretching across the top of the windpipe.
To produce sound, air from the lungs is expelled and pushes through the vocal cords when they are nearly closed. This airflow causes the vocal cords to vibrate rapidly, creating a “buzzy” sound. This vibration generates the sound waves that form our voice.
The frequency and amplitude of these vibrations determine the pitch and volume of the voice. The sound then travels through the throat, mouth, and nasal passages, where it is amplified and modified to produce recognizable speech.
The Unique Mechanics of Whispering
Whispering differs fundamentally from normal speech because it does not primarily involve vocal cord vibration. Instead, when we whisper, the vocal cords are held in a partially abducted, or open, position.
The sound produced during whispering comes from the turbulent airflow created as air passes through a narrow, V- or Y-shaped opening between the vocal cords. This turbulent air generates a hissing sound, rather than the rhythmic pulsing of vibrating cords. While the vocal cords are still involved in shaping this opening, their role is to create resistance and direct the airflow, not to oscillate.
This mechanism explains why whispered speech lacks pitch and is quieter than normal speech. The articulation of different words and sounds in a whisper is achieved by the tongue, lips, and mouth, similar to voiced speech, but without the underlying vocal cord vibration.
The Impact of Whispering on Your Voice
While whispering avoids vocal cord vibration, it can still impose strain on the vocal mechanism. Many people tend to tense the muscles around the larynx to achieve the quiet sound. This muscular effort, combined with the higher airflow, can be fatiguing.
The increased airflow during whispering can also dry out the delicate mucous membranes covering the vocal cords. This dryness can make the vocal cords more susceptible to irritation. Consequently, prolonged or forceful whispering may contribute to vocal fatigue or even hoarseness.
Research suggests that for some individuals, whispering can be more traumatic for the vocal cords than normal speech. This is because the vocal cords are held in a static, tensed position, rather than the dynamic, relaxed vibration of voiced speech. Therefore, when the voice is already strained or recovering from injury, speaking softly at a normal pitch is often recommended over whispering.