Finding a voice: why we sound unique – Science Weekly podcast

Each and everyone of us has a voice that is unique. As a result, we make a lot of assumptions about someone from just the way they speak. But are these judgements fair? And what if they're wrong? Nicola Davis explores

Subscribe and review on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom and Mixcloud. Join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter

Your voice is unique to you, much like your fingerprint. We all have similar anatomy but how you choose to "play" your instrument says something about you. But what exactly? From just the sound of your voice, research has shown that we can glean information about your height, your personality and even whether you're pregnant or not. Sometimes, we can make these judgment in as little as 300 milliseconds. But are these snap judgements we make about someone correct? And what consequences could that have?