FW: Sexy "th" [and "whistled s"]

[Frank Abate]

Re Duane's comments, I don't find this to be an "MCP" thing at all -- just
an observation to be tested against the evidence.  Hence this posting.

I also wish to add another phenomenon re how such women (beauty queen types)
often say a sibilant "s" with a near whistle.  I have noticed this for
years, and from the same group that Duane describes.  The "whistled s" is
also used jocularly to mimic the (supposed) speech of male homosexuals.
Many comedians have this in their routines.  Again, there seems to be some
sort of connection to effeminacy with this sound.

I cannot say that I have noticed the phenomenon that Duane describes, but it
is the case that models and others who aspire to make money or fame from
their beauty are trained to smile often, and to smile very openly, showing
both top and bottom rows of teeth.  That the same folks would reveal other
bits of oral anatomy does not surprise me.

I throw this out so that others might respond with their observations, on
both the "th" and the "s" issues.

Looks like we're all gonna watch the next Miss America Pageant, right?  Who
knew that these ladies were the subject of dialect study?

Maybe we should hold a springtime ADS meeting on the Boardwalk in Atlantic
City.

Frank Abate

-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
Of Duane Campbell
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 10:53 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Sexy "th"


There is a phenomenon I have noticed for years, sort out of the corner of
my mind.

Most people form the "th" sounds by placing the tip of the tongue against
the back of the teeth. As I talk through it, it can be the upper teeth or
the upper and lower teeth together. Occasionally, though, I notice people
making the sound by extending the tongue beyond the teeth, sticking it
out slightly, visibly.

Here's the MCP part. I have noticed this only in women, and particularly
attractive women, more particularly women who have an investment in their
attractiveness. Perhaps it is selective observation -- I may look more
closely at attractive women. In fact, I know I do. But I have never
observed this in men. The physical pronunciation characteristics, that
is, not the part about looking at attractive women.

In fact, I think I noticed this first in beauty contest winners being
interviewed, and I think there may be a higher incidence in this unique
cohort. Watch them say, "Thank you" (which they say a lot). The tongue
very often protrudes.

Is this manner of pronouncing the "TH' sounds specific to women? Has
anyone observed it in men?

D