Linguists find Madonna's voice defies age-related expectations
Linguists from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen have analyzed Madonna's voice over four decades, finding it defies typical age-related vocal changes. The study suggests her vocal characteristics are a deliberate part of her evolving public identity.
Why it matters
The research provides insight into how public figures use vocal performance as a tool for image management and defying societal expectations of aging.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As women go through menopause, their voices tend to become deeper. This is partly because the vocal folds may swell and the surrounding muscles lose elasticity, resulting in a lower pitch. Age-related physiological changes can also affect the pronunciation of certain vowels.
In a new study published in the Nordic Journal of English Studies , researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen analyzed changes in Madonna's voice using acoustic measurements of pitch and vowel pronunciation.
The analysis is based on interviews spanning four decades, from her breakthrough in the 1980s to 2021.
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