Are you hearing ‘Yanny’ or ‘Laurel’?
Internet users are furiously debating a viral sound clip
The sound clip originally posted by vocabulary.com has the social media world in a tizzy |
Everyone’s debating it. Is it “yanny” or “laurel”? This viral sound clip has the social media world in a tizzy over the past 24 hours. Yes, just like the gold and white versus blue and black dress debate!
The recording was originally posted by vocabulary. com — it was supposed to be for the pronunciation of the word “laurel” but, ended up with many hearing “yanny” instead. The clip has been shared and passed around countless times on the internet.
Some people hear nothing but a distinct “yanny”, while others hear, well, “laurel”.
Twitter user, @BlondeKatty fears that what she hears depicts her age. She tweeted: “I hear ‘laurel’ and according to a doctor I’ve just heard speaking that is what the older person hears! ‘yanny’ is apparently on a higher frequency so younger people hear this!”
While Twitter user @jackf723 can’t believe that some people are hearing two different words. He tweeted: “Anyone who hears ‘yanny’, yeah they should go get their ears checked LOL. Seriously though, laurel and yanny are two totally different words. Even for someone who can’t distinguish the difference, the vowels are totally opposite!”
Twitter user @kerryswainbank further added to the conundrum with the tweet: “... I don’t hear yanny or laurel, I hear Louis???”
Phonetic experts
Dubai based Twitter user @lou_bear1 commented on everyone’s analysis of the situation: “Love how Twitter has exploded into a bunch of phonetic experts this morning!”
People have tried breaking down the phenomenon. According to experts, what one hears depends on the frequencies in the recording that a person’s ear picks up because the clip holds a mixture of frequencies that make up both words. Those who tune into lower frequencies hear ‘laurel’, while those who hear the higher sound waves say ‘yanny’. And, yes, there are those who can hear both the words!