Lexicon Valley: Speech scientist Benjamin Munson on the stereotypical gay man’s voice.

What Does It Mean to Sound Gay?

What Does It Mean to Sound Gay?

Slate
Lexicon Valley
A show about the mysteries of English.
Dec. 1 2014 10:56 AM

What Does It Mean to Sound Gay?

Listen to Slate’s show about the myths and realities of the stereotypical gay man’s voice.

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Scott Thompson as Buddy Cole from The Kids in the Hall
Scott Thompson as Buddy Cole from The Kids in the Hall.

Screenshot via Nerdist/CBC

Listen to Lexicon Valley Episode No. 48: What Does It Mean to Sound Gay?

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Affect a lisp, assume a lilt, and add a fair amount of flamboyance. Presto! Instant gay man’s voice. It’s a stereotype, to be sure, but is there any truth to it? Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo talk to Benjamin Munson, a speech scientist at the University of Minnesota, about what it means to sound gay.

You’ll find every Lexicon Valley episode at slate.com/lexiconvalley, or in the player below:

Send your thoughts about the show to lexiconvalley@slate.com.