Yanny vs Laurel

Erica Roy

Did you see a black and gold dress or a blue and white dress? This infamous picture sparked debates all over social media about who was right and who was wrong. Some said they could see both, some said neither. The newest debate is about whether social media users hear the words “Yanny” or “Laurel” in a short sound clip recording. Both of these words have very similar acoustics. The original recording says the word “Laurel”. So, for all of you guys who thought so, you were right! The brain subconsciously listens to the certain frequencies that it wants to. People who are more attuned to hearing higher frequencies, specifically younger people, hear “Yanny.” On the other hand, while people who hear “Laurel” hear lower frequencies better. If one were to go and listen to the recording without being given the option of either word, it is possible to hear a completely different word, rather than ‘Yanny’ or ‘Laurel.’ Even after being told that these are the two words being talked about in relation to the recording, they likely still will not be able to hear either.  If frequency of the original recording is turned up, it will be easier to hear ‘Yanny,’ and if it is turned down it will be easier to hear ‘Laurel.’ When asked what they heard in the sound recording, Esme McCarthy ‘20 responded, “I hear neither. When I listen to the recording I hear ‘Yuri’.” Opposingly, when asked the same question, Antonio Payton ‘20 said, “I definitely hear ‘Laurel’, but sometimes I can hear ‘Yanny.’” So there you have it. Which do you hear?

Photo courtesy of CBS News