Breaking the Elocutionary Rules with Vocal Fry

Many comedians are a prime example of following the rules of the elocutionary movement to the point of success with your audience.  But what happens when you choose not to follow the rules?  The ideals of the elocutionary movement suggest that failure on any of the aspects of the presentation can lead to a less effective presentation that doesn't reach the audience as well.  An elocutionary faux pas can be seen with comedian Chelsea Peretti and her suspect voice.  Simply put, Chelsea Peretti has a vocal fry.  "Vocal fry" is a term used to describe a specific tone of voice in which the speaker ends his or her sentences with an inflection higher than in the beginning.  Also characterized as the "Valley Girl lift", vocal fry is exhibited more often in females than males, and it tends to result in a negative reaction from those who listen.  This reaction has been overwhelmingly negative for women in the workplace without any rational reason.  Michael J. Higdon points out the overtly harmful reaction to this trait more prominent in women:  "This 'Valley Girl lift,' as Hofstra fine arts professor Laurie Fendrich maligns it, 'reveals an unexplainable lack of confidence in one’s opinions and a radical uncertainty about one’s place in the world.' ... So we re wrong when we raise our voices, and we’re wrong when we lower them----Creaky Girls may be seen as overly masculine and derisive" (Oral Advocacy and Vocal Fry, p. 216).  Rightfully or not; vocal fry seems to be detrimental to women of all professions, yet Chelsea Peretti is seeing more success in her career than ever before.  This is possibly because Chelsea Peretti follows the rules of elocution everywhere else.  If people in thhe audience are initially turned off by Peretti's voice, they only have to wait a moment for her to shine in terms of impersonation or great timing for her punchlines.  Simply put, Chelsea Peretti's voice does not get in the way of her ability to set up a joke and reach her audience.