Gransnet forums

Chat

Do you hate the sound of your own voice?

(102 Posts)
GagaJo Tue 24-Aug-21 00:37:55

As part of my job, I have to record student oral exams. An unfortunate part of this involves me asking them questions. When I mark the exams, I have to listen and relisten to the recordings as I go through the criteria and pick out bits for comments. I have NEVER got used to listening to myself on them. I know how to make myself sound 'better' to my own ears but in the midst of exam performance anxiety, I frequently forget to modulate, flatten my accent and enunciate.

GrauntyHelen Tue 24-Aug-21 11:15:25

I like my voice

Parisgranny Tue 24-Aug-21 11:17:01

Dépends which language I am speaking. I hate to hear myself speaking French

JaneJudge Tue 24-Aug-21 11:17:56

I HATE IT!

Purplepoppies Tue 24-Aug-21 11:18:31

I don't like hearing myself on recordings at all.
Im often mistaken for a man on the phone....
I have a very deep voice for a female ?
I was actually called sir by a man at a market stall once. I was most offended and felt the need to point out my rather large bosom!! Needless to say I didn't give him my custom!!

Lesley60 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:18:58

I absolutely hate my voice even when I try to do my phone voice, and it goes really high when I’m excited

LisaAN Tue 24-Aug-21 11:20:55

I hate the sound of my own voice. It is fairly deep for a woman and also quite nasal, like I have a continually blocked nose (which I haven't). Also hate my accent, after 30 years in this country quite a few people can still tell I'm from Germany. Maybe elocution lessons? Or be proud of the fact that my accent is part of me?

Canuck1966 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:22:29

My voice is getting gravelly- I hate it. I’m getting an old lady voice.

HannahLoisLuke Tue 24-Aug-21 11:25:37

Hate mine too, it sounds really slow and drawn out, although other people often said I sound like Joanna Lumley, I wish.
It’s even worse nowadays as I’ve developed a nasty croak which has been diagnosed as silent reflux.
It’s definitely not silent!

Bigirl57 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:26:48

It’s very common not to like the sound of your own voice particularly your singing voice, that’s why people often say “ oh I can’t sing” when they can and sound very good. We went on a study day organised by Rock Choir of which we belong to and learnt a great deal about voices. It is a very tiny number of the population who really can’t sing.

adrisco Tue 24-Aug-21 11:30:49

I hate my voice. Cold callers have called me "Mr", and my voice on a recording is awful . Plus my laugh is more of a cackle!

Childofthe60s Tue 24-Aug-21 11:32:56

I sound like a man. The first time I heard a recording of my voice was at junior school, when we were recorded as part of a presentation we were doing. I sounded just like one of the boys and was horrified. I won't even record the message on our answerphone, or knowingly speak when anyone is videoing on their phones.

Georgesgran Tue 24-Aug-21 11:34:56

I can only echo Lauren.
I do have a Durham accent, but my grammar is good, I don’t drop G’s or refer to me things, instead of my things, but when I’ve heard myself it’s the intonation/pitch I don’t like - a bit like ‘Vera’ who comes in for some stick around here.
As for pictures - I run a mile, if I see any devise that might take one!

Enid101 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:35:31

Curlywhirly

Yes I too cringe when I hear my voice, I have a Lancashire accent which seems to sound even more broad on film or over the phone. However, when I was on holiday in the US, Americans kept commenting on how they loved my accent, they obviously have no idea! ?

You can’t beat a Lancashire accent!

Gwenisgreat1 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:35:34

Yes, I feel I sound like I'm swallowing it!! Horrible!

Uptodate Tue 24-Aug-21 11:36:47

Hate it, I sound like a bloke that's smoked 20 a day for the last 40 years (I haven't)plus I suffer with tinnitus which makes me slightly deaf therefore I tend to bellow a bit. Thank God I don't inflict my singing voice on the world

Brownowl564 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:36:50

Your voice recorded always sounds different to how your voice sounds in your head when you speak, it’s weird

Blossoming Tue 24-Aug-21 11:38:15

FannyCornforth

In fact Marmight, perhaps we could form a double act?

Best post I’ve seen today, you do make me laugh FannyC grin

Marmight Tue 24-Aug-21 11:39:11

FannyCornforth. We’d have to include Lucky as the Queen Mum! Who would you be. ? George? ?

Elvis58 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:51:39

Yes l do l hate it. l sound like a demented parrot!

Betty18 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:53:20

I sing and have to listen back to my practice sessions. It’s necessary but excruciating! I’ve learned now to hear past it now so I can be objective but my god it’s hard.

Theoddbird Tue 24-Aug-21 11:53:56

I am not over keen on my voice. I have a slight South London accent. Have not lived there since the mid seventies. But hey...it is part of me and accept it sunshine

PaperMonster Tue 24-Aug-21 11:56:21

I used to work in radio, so I don’t mind. Can’t stand seeing myself on screen though!!

3nanny6 Tue 24-Aug-21 11:58:10

I sometimes have a thing about my voice and do not like to hear it in recordings although most of you have said the same.
At my age I am used to my voice and can hold a conversation with most people.

With me the voice thing is traceable back to when I was a child at school about 8 years old. There was a certain male teacher that seemed to take a dislike to me why I do not know. One memory that will never leave me is one Christmas time when he was taking the class for a choir practice we were all singing so he was walking up and down
and then said loudly I know who is out of tune and pointing at me he shouted get out of the line and go and sit down you are ruining the choir. I sat on one of the benches crying but all he said was that's better now the choir can sing.
Another day in class he asked me a question and I was not sure of the answer and next thing he threw a huge book at me luckily it missed.
Once I started not wanting to go to school my mother questioned me what was the matter and I told her that the teacher was horrible. My mother went to the school and back in those days not a lot was done but I was so happy when I left his class and went into the next class with a lovely Welsh man for a teacher.
I got over the horror of that teacher and would still sing in assembly but to this day I still have doubts about my speaking voice and would never join the church choir as damage was done from that horrible despicable teacher and although he is probably dead now whenever I have thoughts of him I know what it means to hate with a vengeance.

BlueSky Tue 24-Aug-21 12:02:36

Alioop

I don't mind my accent, but my voice sounds like a child's. When I had a house phone, I used to get asked could the caller speak to my mother, I'm 55 at the weekend.

Same here Alioop only I’m nearly 75! grin

GrannyTracey Tue 24-Aug-21 12:07:28

Alioop I once went on a radio show & my then boyfriend told me I sounded like a child. I was so embarrassed. Even now when I hear my voice in recordings I cringe . My daughter recorded me with my granddaughter last week & I still hate my voice