A scratchy voice is a type of vocal quality that is characterized by a rough, hoarse sound. It is usually caused by an irritation or inflammation of the vocal cords, which can be due to a variety of factors such as allergies, smoking, or overuse of the voice. The term 'RASP' is often used to describe this type of voice, and is derived from the Middle English word 'raspen, ' meaning 'to grate or scrape.'