4 ms·

I've always hypothesized that humming while eatting (or saying "Mmmmm") is the perfect pitch to vibrate the hummer's tounge, which makes the flavors experienced

I've always hypothesized that humming while eatting (or saying "Mmmmm") is the perfect pitch to vibrate the hummer's tounge, which makes the flavors experienced more pronounced. It would explain why we say "Mmmmm" not something higher pitched. Plus you can feel your tounge moving when you say "Mmmmm". Any thoughts?

gohrt 11y ago
"m" is a consonant. What does it mean to assign it a pitch?
- gliese1337 11y ago
  "m" is a nasal sonorant. It's assigned a pitch the same way nasal and oral vowels are- based on the positions of its major formants. Or, less technically, when someone successfully hums a non-monotone tune- you have just heard what it means for them to assign a series of differing pitches to "m".
- gavinpc 11y ago
  "m" is a voiced, nasal consonant. It can be pitched as much as any vowel.
- gavinpc 11y ago
  "m" is a voiced, nasal consonant. It can be pitched as much as any vowel.
- pierrec 11y ago
  In this context, it means nothing. As you point out, GP is conflating pitch with pitchless phonemes, for example, the phrase "we say "Mmmmm" not something higher pitched" doesn't make any sense. However, I suppose GP meant to write "we tend to say "Mmmm" with a specific, relatively low pitch", a statement with which I don't particularly agree. I would rather say it's done at an average conversational pitch, or even at a higher pitch since it often has a pitch accent conveying surprise. Which I believe is the main purpose of saying "mmm": communication, not vibrational tongue massage. Consider that when you say "mmm", you voluntarily choose a pitch intonation according to what you're trying to convey, ie. how pleasantly surprised you are.
- golergka 11y ago
  You can do Fourie transform to any sound, and if you see that certain frequency and it's modulations have a prevalence over all others, then you can talk about this sound's pitch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_detection_algorithm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_detection_algorithm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_frequency https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_frequency
ambicapter 11y ago
Just one: I don't feel my tongue moving when I "Mmmmmm".
plaguuuuuu 11y ago
Not every culture says "Mmm".
- escherize 11y ago
  I actually thought they did! I'd love to hear about what cultures dont.
  - contingencies 11y ago
    Chinese say 好吃！ (hao chi, literally "good eatin'!") Thai say aroy ("tasty!") aroy mak ("very tasty!") or perhaps, if memory serves, gin dee ("good eatin'")! 'Mmm' is a very western sound I think. Probably not that historically established either, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a post broadcast media development. Remember how uptight the Victorians were. Perhaps it's French?
joseakle 11y ago
Maybe it's the easiest noise to make with a closed mouth?

gohrt 11y ago

"m" is a consonant. What does it mean to assign it a pitch?

gliese1337 11y ago
"m" is a nasal sonorant. It's assigned a pitch the same way nasal and oral vowels are- based on the positions of its major formants. Or, less technically, when someone successfully hums a non-monotone tune- you have just heard what it means for them to assign a series of differing pitches to "m".
gavinpc 11y ago
"m" is a voiced, nasal consonant. It can be pitched as much as any vowel.
gavinpc 11y ago
"m" is a voiced, nasal consonant. It can be pitched as much as any vowel.
pierrec 11y ago
In this context, it means nothing. As you point out, GP is conflating pitch with pitchless phonemes, for example, the phrase "we say "Mmmmm" not something higher pitched" doesn't make any sense. However, I suppose GP meant to write "we tend to say "Mmmm" with a specific, relatively low pitch", a statement with which I don't particularly agree. I would rather say it's done at an average conversational pitch, or even at a higher pitch since it often has a pitch accent conveying surprise. Which I believe is the main purpose of saying "mmm": communication, not vibrational tongue massage. Consider that when you say "mmm", you voluntarily choose a pitch intonation according to what you're trying to convey, ie. how pleasantly surprised you are.
golergka 11y ago
You can do Fourie transform to any sound, and if you see that certain frequency and it's modulations have a prevalence over all others, then you can talk about this sound's pitch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_detection_algorithm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_detection_algorithm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_frequency https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_frequency

ambicapter 11y ago

Just one: I don't feel my tongue moving when I "Mmmmmm".

plaguuuuuu 11y ago

Not every culture says "Mmm".

escherize 11y ago
I actually thought they did! I'd love to hear about what cultures dont.
- contingencies 11y ago
  Chinese say 好吃！ (hao chi, literally "good eatin'!") Thai say aroy ("tasty!") aroy mak ("very tasty!") or perhaps, if memory serves, gin dee ("good eatin'")! 'Mmm' is a very western sound I think. Probably not that historically established either, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a post broadcast media development. Remember how uptight the Victorians were. Perhaps it's French?

joseakle 11y ago

Maybe it's the easiest noise to make with a closed mouth?