Talisman Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleW Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I don't read in different accents, but the characters in the books sound a bit different from each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnbirduk Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelley.s Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I don't read in different accents, but the characters in the books sound a bit different from each other. This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abcinthia Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayley Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I think I do this, although due to a lack of travelling, the voices I imagine are probably nothing like what they should be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I do - and not just in my head either. I do it reading aloud to myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I do exactly the same - LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 Ha ha, so I am not the only one after all, and am not quite as mad as I thought I was ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsty_S Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 I can't do accents either! But I do read Hagrid from Harry Potter in his accent, as its written how he speaks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirsty_S Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyGirl Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkle Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I only put on voices (in my head) if it's mentioned in the books, for example "she squealed" or "he said moodily". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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