I’m trying to understand why so many of the presidential candidates speak in a tone of voice that is grating, consistently strident, and often borderline growling. It’s as if they’re furious or livid from the get-go. They angrily gesticulate as if they’re having a bad domestic spat with a spouse or teenager. This is certainly far from an acceptable demeanor in any line of work.

Donald Trump is in a category of his own, silly and sneering, but several of the others just sound like haranguing scolds.

What’s going on here? Is this a new style in the rhetorical arts?

Sharon Cronan

Cambridge