Can you guess what this week's topic is?
It's about being repetitive. Or redundant. Or ... something else entirely!
It's about VOICE.
In writing terms, voice is like the author's signature on each page of their work. Voice, or tone, is their style, their rhythm, their prose. It is a reflection of that author's persona. It is what makes their work unique.
Another way to illustrate this would be to use music: you know how you can hear a band like U2 and instantly identify their sound and know that it's The Edge and Bono and Cher? Some bands are harder to identify based on their sound, oftentimes because they are trying to duplicate what has made another band successful. Tone can be imitated, but when you think about it, every bestselling band/author has their own sound/voice.
Voice isn't something that can be taught, nor is there a formula for developing voice. It is what is inside you and it is your job as an author to transpose that bit of yourself onto the page. But! The characters can't be an extension of you. And the plot can't be based on your real life, unless you are writing nonfiction. Can you see why voice is a tricky bugger to nail down? It's you: but it's a fictional you.
Do you wonder why I'm dumping all this writing info on you? Because something Devree wrote in the comment thread last week got me thinking: she mentioned laughing at the Laffy Taffy jokes and I realized I have never heard the sound of Devree's voice. And JazznJenna. And Didi. And other random passers-by. That's the way of the internet: we spend a lot of time reading and getting to know other people, but we don't often get to hear them speak. (Unless they are into vlogging, which bless them for doing that, but don't count on me ever being so brave.)
What you wouldn't know about reading my voice is this: I'm often described as "soft spoken." (Except my kids would never say that about me, but we're not going there!) I was once told I should practice lowering the tone of my voice so I would sound more professional. Does that mean I sound ditzy? Sometimes when I answer the phone, people ask me if my mom is home. That doesn't happen so much anymore, probably because they can hear the grey hairs on my head. (Teen #2 pointed one out to me today, thank you very much.) I love that my voice sounds a lot like my sisters, and like some of my nieces too. (Again, I'm fascinated with genetics. It's so cool how families can sound alike.)
I love when I read everyone's comments because I can hear little bits of your voice. But would you do us all a favor? Would you describe your voice? What do you sound like? Is your voice like others in your family? How about this: do you speak the dialect of your area? Yes, I'll admit, I might sound a bit Montana-ish, but I've lived here my whole life so it's unavoidable! Last night someone asked me if I was Canadian, but I'm thinking (hoping) that was because I ordered gravy with fries and it wasn't related to my voice.
Yeehaw!
And how about this: what does your laugh sound like? I know that's hard to describe. Mine would be a whinny-snort-cackle cackle. (I don't know how to describe it really, since it seems like no two laughs are ever the same. But I have been known to snort before. Yup. I'm awesome.)
OK! I've talked about myself for long enough (yet again!); now it's your turn! Describe what makes your voice YOU!
Oh, and it's the last week of September (how'd that happen?) so come back Thursday for the monthly winner!
9 comments:
I think my voice has changed over the last couple years as my personality has changed. I've noticed I've had to repeat myself more often from not being heard as I've gotten more reserved in my personality. I always think my voice is a little low sounding to me, so I'm always surprised when I hear myself recorded and it actually sounds a little high pitched. (One of those, 'is that my voice?" from the Emperor's New Groove moments)
My laugh depends on how hard I'm laughing. I've noticed that when I'm laughing pretty hard, I have a silent laugh, and I know why! It's from being in classes with my friends and I worked really hard on not laughing out loud so I never got caught or in trouble. I never realized it'd be something that stuck with me though.
Oh, and you can definitely tell we're from Montana. I never really noticed until our Bishop said something to Steve about it. I guess saying "yip" instead of 'yep' is a Montana thing? I had never noticed! I just always thought I was saying yep. And I've noticed that I have the awful Utah accent thing. It's only on certain words, but instead of mit-ten, it's mih-uhn. I hate it when I notice it. Something I need to work on. And I never even spent time in Utah growing up!
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=16460735
I think it's pretty universal for us all to think our voices are a little lower than what other people actually hear--thanks to the physiology of us hearing through our inner ear and others only hearing us with our outer ear. Just something I think I learned in my voice classes in college.
When I hear my voice on an answering machine, I always wonder why I sound so serious and concerned. Shouldn't life sound more fun and happy and less serious and concerned-ish?
I have a relatively high voice. I'm not saying annoyingly high like Minnie Mouse, I'm just saying when I tell people that I sing, they can usually guess by my speaking voice that I sing soprano rather than alto.
I sound a lot like my mom and my sister, though again--I hate how serious my sister always sounds ; ).
My laugh is happy and fun, so at least I have that going for me (to counter my serious speaking voice). I have enjoyed noticing over they years though that my laugh changes at times based on whom I laugh with! If my subconscious thinks "that person's laugh makes me feel happy," then all of the sudden I find myself laughing like that person. Kind of funny.
I don't know if Didi will get on here again this week...but just in case she doesn't, she has the softest sweetest gentle voice a person can have : ).
Jenna beat me to explaining why we don't sound like we think we sound! And she's right. When I speak I hear my voice through the vibration of the bones in my skull. The rest of you don't get to hear that version of my voice. I am always uncomfortable hearing a recording of my voice because I don't think it sounds like me.
What do I sound like? I'm quiet. For some reason, I did not pick up regional dialectal weirdnesses from the many places I've lived: the drawl of Virginia, the twang of West Texas, elongated /a/ of Montana, the ever present glottal stop of Utah (as mentioned by Nicole), and many others. When I took Phonetics and Phonology in college I became more aware of my voice and pronunciations and wondered things like, "Why don't I pronounce things the same way my older brother does?" and "How come I don't say 'y'all' like my mom does?"
Okay, enough ruminating on my phonological development. What does my laugh sound like? It varies. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I often have a seemingly out of character explosive laugh. We laugh a lot at our house because I have the funniest kid in the world. I'll have to pay more attention to the different sounds of my laughter and if our daughter laughs like one of us or like her cousins.
Thanks for the homework assignment, Lori.
I would have to say the opposite. It seems to me like when I hear a recording of my voice I always think "gross...is my voice really that low?" Not that I sound like a man it's just that I sound a bit higher to myself.
I have been told I sound just like my mom, sisters or even my sister in law. My husband says I have a "voice" I do when my mom calls. I can't really describe it other than it is kind of like how Chandler Bing from Friends has a distinct voice... or at least distinct way of saying things. Mine doesn't sound as cool though.
My laugh can range from a super girly giggle to an high pitch hyena type sound or sometimes silent. Tears usually freely flow no matter what my laugh sounds like so overall it's pretty attractive. You can start being jealous now :)
I'm glad I provoked a blog post! Well, my voice sounds kind of breathy and sexy-like...just kidding, I couldn't and wouldn't make that judgement. No, I kinda have a quiet voice because after cancer treatment my lungs don't take in as much air, even though I sing and played the flute. If I'm purposely trying to be loud, like yelling, my voice gets higher. I squeak sometimes but that's never intentional.
My laugh changes with what's provoking the laughter. If I'm being sarcastic and laughing at one of my dad's puns I'll do the "Aha aha, gimme that" like Woddy in the first Toy Story. (you know what I'm talking about.) Other times I go "Ahhhh!" like i'm finally finding the humor in what has been said. I laugh hardest with Noble, my brother, so you'd have to observe me then. Or you can ask PaulaShawn, she/he's heard me laugh. Or you could listen to my voicemail but if I answer you just say "No! I wanted to hear your voice!" But If I answer you're accomplishing the same thing. I'll stop talking now. :D
Nicole: I love that line from Emperor's New Groove and that cat's voice is exactly how I would describe yours. Kidding! Being able to laugh silently is a priceless skill, especially when working with children. Isn't it awful when they do something so darn funny and you can't help but laugh and you know that your laughing makes them paranoid? It also comes in handy when shopping at Walmart.
JazznJenna(aka Ms. Smartypants): If you are worried about sounding to serious on your voicemail, you could always sing your message. Then people would call you over and over again just to get an ear massage from your message. :)You know what? I'm a laugh cloner too. Good thing I don't hang around Elmo.
Sally(aka Ms. Smartypants #2) I think my brain shrunk reading your comment. Why iz you guyz so smarts? (That was the Montana in me coming out. JK Montana. I only tease you because I love you so much.) Yes, I remember you being quiet, but everything that came out of your mouth was worth listening to, unlike some other gal who yaks way too much. (Me!) Good luck with the research. I'm sure you'll come back with a remarkably studious analysis.
Anne: Oh the tears: such a family trait. That's one I really wouldn't like to pass down, as I have embarrassed myself SO many times. (Is she laughing or crying?) I haven't noticed Joelle doing it yet: does Maggie? Maybe it comes when hormones go crazy in the adolescent years--something for them to look forward to.
Devree: look at your beautiful red hair! Love it! It matches your smexy voice! (This is just MHO, but I only think of a woman's voice being sexy when she has an French or Italian accent. Weird, huh?) Woody's laugh is the best! Yes, please give me your #. I'll make sure I only call at 3 a.m. while you are sleeping so I can get your VM. I might call back several times in a row to hear it, but that shouldn't wake you up, should it?
I just realized that we have another thing in common! People also say I am soft spoken as well, but not my friends. I don't exactly know how to describe my voice... but I guess that people here would say that I sound like an Oregonian. (I didn't know that was an accent! I guess it just depends on where you live.)
My laugh changes lots, I think. Sometimes I imitate other people's laughs, but maybe you could describe mine as in the middle. (a.k.a not high or low pitched).
An occasional snort too. I have to admit.
Bye!
I am still carrying a complex about my voice from that super rude boyfriend's comment. I wish I had a lovely, soothing, quiet voice but I don't. It's a bit rough and abrasive and I really don't like having to hear it recorded. No snorting here, but I love a good laugh, it sure makes me feel good about the world.
Didi: I didn't know Oregonian was an accent either, but like you said- that's because I'm too close to Oregon. Why didn't I know you guys when you lived there? We would have had a better chance of running into each other and snorting at Laffy Taffy jokes.
bigskyboys: You need to dig that comment out from under your skin and embrace that your voice is totally YOU and I love it! It's what makes you so great with cubs. :) I've seen that you get tears in your eyes when you laugh at times too ... are we related?
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