Do you read in different voices?

[Talisman]

I have always been interested in different countries and cultures, having travelled quite a lot in my younger days, so it has been natural for me to seek out books also set in different countries. I find though quite often that when I read these books, I hear the words in my head in the same accent as someone from that country rather than in my own voice - Indian for example, or Australian. It makes for quite a humerous experience at times. I was just wondering if anyone else has this experience or if I am the only one?

Edited October 9, 2011 by Talisman

[LittleW]

I don't read in different accents, but the characters in the books sound a bit different from each other.

[dawnbirduk]

I don't read in different voices to myself, but I love reading to children, then I do put on a different voice, and they love it

[shelley.s]

I don't read in different accents, but the characters in the books sound a bit different from each other.

 

This

[Abcinthia]

I never do accents unless the book is phonetically written in a specific accent/dialect (e.g. like in the colour purple)

 

Usually the characters have slightly different voices but not always. It depends how much I like the book and what sort of mood I'm in.

[Hayley]

I think I do this, although due to a lack of travelling, the voices I imagine are probably nothing like what they should be

[Kell]

I do - and not just in my head either. I do it reading aloud to myself!

[Karsa Orlong]

I do, too. Sometimes the description of a character will remind me of an actor, and then I have that actor playing the part in my head

[Kell]

I do exactly the same - LOL!

[Pixie]

Not only do I read in different voices for different characters, I also think in different voices when I am not reading.

Different emotions have a different vocal quality if my head.

[Talisman]

Ha ha, so I am not the only one after all, and am not quite as mad as I thought I was !

[Kylie]

I never do accents unless the book is phonetically written in a specific accent/dialect (e.g. like in the colour purple)

 

I'm the same. I'm bad with accents, so it would only ruin my reading experience if I tried to use accents.

[Kirsty_S]

I tend to read with my own accent, but only when its description, when it comes to dialog, the characters all have their own voice and I tend to read it in the accent of the country, which are probably the wrong accents.

[lauraloves]

I can't do accents either! But I do read Hagrid from Harry Potter in his accent, as its written how he speaks!

[Kirsty_S]

I think it helps when it is written in the accent, you know how they are meant to sound. I did read a book once that was written in a Glaswegian dialect, now I'm Scottish, but I found it hard going.

[Echo]

It's weird, but I always read in my own voice, no matter what. Even if the character is a man, it's still my voice in my head.

[chesilbeach]

The only time I hear the words in someone elses voice tend to be for memoirs of people I hear a lot, e.g. I heard Mark Kermode's voice in my head when I read both of his book recently, and I also tend to hear Stephen Fry when I read the Harry Potter books now as I've listened to the audiobooks so many times! If a book is written in dialect, then I will often try to read it in my head with the correct accent, just so I can get the flow of the words and sentences right.

[HoneyGirl]

Oh blimey, I thought I was the only one who did this! I am quite relieved to find out that I am not alone in my imagining different voices for the characters. Sometimes, if I have read a book before its been turned into a film and the character I have imagined has a totally different face and voice to the actor playing it, then it totally puts me off!

[twinkle]

I only put on voices (in my head) if it's mentioned in the books, for example "she squealed" or "he said moodily".