When it comes to voice feminization, some parts of speech are more challenging than others. Today I want to talk about gerunds.

What is a gerund, you say?

A gerund is the form of a verb that ends in -ing. For example: walking, talking, shopping.

In English, gerunds have a typical inflection when they're used in statements. That inflection is high low. Like this:

These can be a challenge when working on feminizing the voice because gerunds naturally encourage a relaxation of the larynx into a lower position. When feminizing the voice, maintaining an elevated larynx is the primary way that we increase the brightness of resonance. If the larynx falls, the resonance of the voice because darker and potentially more masculine.

So, if you're working on feminizing your voice and you feel confident in your ability to control your larynx height, challenge yourself today by practicing your gerunds!

Here's a list of commonly used gerunds to get you going:

• walking
• talking
• shopping
• running
• going
• raining
• driving
• doing
• hoping
• reading
• cooking
• cleaning
• organizing
• travelling
• arriving
• deciding
• transitioning ;)