Barylalia

/ˌbæriːˈleɪliə/ noun

Definition

A speech disorder characterized by abnormally deep or heavy-sounding voice quality, or difficulty articulating certain sounds.

Etymology

From Greek 'barys' (heavy/deep) + 'lalia' (speech/chatter). A medical term developed in the 19th-20th centuries to classify voice and speech disturbances.

Kelly Says

Unlike many speech disorders that affect clarity, barylalia is specifically about the acoustic quality of the voice itself—someone with this condition might sound permanently hoarse or speak in an unusually deep register.

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