학술 논문 실린 ‘투바투’ 애교 목소리…과학적으로 ‘혀 짧은 소리’ 아니다

The term 'Aegyo', which describes the adorable and enthusiastic vocal style of K-pop idols, has gained global recognition. Often associated with children's high pitched voices, studies have revealed that the way 'Aegyo' is produced involves lowering the tongue and shortening the mouth cavity, resulting in a more infantile sound.

Professor Kim Ji-eun of Kyunghee University and Professor Paul K. Davis of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, have recently published findings in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA) regarding the physiological changes in the mouth during 'Aegyo' speech. The researchers focused on vowel sounds, examining the changes in vocal tract structures when Korean speakers produce 'Aegyo' compared to their normal speech.

They concentrated on vowel articulation because children's vocal tracts are shorter than those of adults, which raises the frequency of certain sound bands. Their findings show that the 'F1' frequency value significantly increases when individuals produce 'Aegyo' vowels, indicating that the vocal tract is temporarily being shortened.

This vocal strategy, which involves raising the soft palate and lowering the tongue, is not an uncommon survival tactic in the animal kingdom, where it is used to appear more threatening. However, the researchers believe that this is an unusual strategy in humans, as it allows individuals to appear smaller and more endearing, potentially fostering protection instincts and social bonds.

This manipulation of the voice also makes it easier for others to remember the speaker, as it creates a distinctive auditory signature.