Hi Schalk,
The ‘voice’ of a second-tier speaker does carry certain qualities; but what such a voice ‘sounds like’ in actual practice is subject to varying interpretations outside of the control of the speaker. In part this is due to what could be called the vertical relations between one level and another or more importantly between first-tier and second. In simplest terms when first-tier comes across a production or voice of second-tier it often seems opaque or even impenetrable; the corollary is also true for the second tier, where first tier production appears as transparent.
Perhaps you remember a conversation between KW and Tami Simon that made reference to human capacities that were rather colloquially called ‘a truth detector’ and/or a ‘crap detector’. So i suggest that this is the sort of thing that points to qualities that a second-tier voice might demonstrate; it may also in some sense occasionally be beautiful, and or carry a sense of goodness.
In any case i think it's fair to say that second tier voices tend to carry a greater and deeper sense of authenticity, than does first-tier which often labors under the burden of deficiency needs, which cause it to bend incoming impressions in such a way that they are seen as validation.
Perhaps it's worth pointing out that third tier is as opaque to second-tier as second tier is to first.
Here's a story that may relate to this question. It was noon hour and i was seated on a marble bench in a wing of the Art Institute of Chicago that contained many stone statues of the Buddha. I sat there quietly for a while, and then a thought entered, “What if instead of a stone Buddha i was sitting next to the real live creature; what if anything would he have to say to me?” The next thought was, “That's impossible!” But wait, i have three similar and handy coins in my pocket, which could easily be used to perform a divination using this ‘what if’ question (Employing the great Chinese classic of change, which i had grokked at least to the extent of Confucius -both of us having worn the covers off of our copies more than once.) When the answer came up as chapter 47 variously known as exhaustion, oppression, or weariness and where the English text says, “Even though it be said, it would not be believed.” I considered this reply to be marvelously apt and loaded with irony -which if i may add- points to the subtle humor of second-tier and perhaps beyond.
Warmly,
Charles
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