If yes, is there any scientific basis to this?
2007-03-09 18:08:34 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Yes and yes. You can generally determine race, and sometimes weight. I know there is a scientific basis because scientists have been 'creating' the voices of famous paintings.. Just a few months ago I listened to clips of Leonardo Da Vinci and Mona Lisa's voice as determined by scientists.
2007-03-09 18:13:20 · answer #1 · answered by brian 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might be able to get an idea of some of the person's physical characteristics, but I have been setting up face-to-face appointments with people over the phone for the past 7 years, and there are few who looks exactly as they sound.
People who are overweight often tend to have a more gutteral, full sound to their voice. Some races, ethnicities and nationalities have certain speech patterns and pronunciations, although they don't always have similiar physical features. It's usually pretty easy to tell a female from a male, but not always. :) I would like to see scientific studies that claim you can determine appearance from voice. Just from my own experience I find it pretty hard to believe.
2007-03-09 18:24:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really. Someone may have an Hispanic accent but black, white, or Asian features. Or any combination thereof. And it can apply to any accent. A person with a deep, masculine voice can be short and wispy. A person with a higher pitched and softer voice can be the picture of a WWF wrestler. There are stereotypes and, even, general characteristics to vocalizations but there are always to many exceptions to expect a voice to suggest anything about appearance.
Gender is the most you can hope for but even then there are exceptions.
When I was in first grade I was teased because I sounded like a boy. Now telemarketers ask if my parents are home because I sould like a 12 year old girl (not complaining, a good way to easily get rid of teemarkers. "No, mommy and daddy aren't here but you can talk to my babysitter").
At best you can study languages and learn the nuances in pronunciation to develop and ear for where people have spent significant portions of their life based on accent. But even that says nothing of their personality.
Just like looks don't define a person's personality a voice can't define looks.
2007-03-09 21:34:02 · answer #3 · answered by ophelliaz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say no. My job requires me to talk to people I have never met. When I finally see a picture of them, they never look like what I expected.
2007-03-10 11:57:00 · answer #4 · answered by ragincajun1957 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was then no one would call the sex lines, you wouldn't believe what some of those gals look like.
2007-03-09 19:37:05 · answer #5 · answered by Rizza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't think it works all of the time, or else there wouldn't be ugly, fat and dirty sex phone operators.As we have seen on TV specials.
2007-03-09 18:18:07 · answer #6 · answered by mother of Bridezilla 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is possible...but nt always....though...dunno ov a scvientific reason
2007-03-09 18:17:11 · answer #7 · answered by supreety2k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How could it be true?
2007-03-09 18:19:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope.
2007-03-09 18:16:45 · answer #9 · answered by googleplex 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont believe so.
2007-03-09 18:14:26 · answer #10 · answered by wcarolinew 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋