Why does my voice sound "different" than everybody else?

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K_Kelly
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04 Dec 2016, 7:00 pm

When I was turning 17, I was diagnosed with a mild version of a rare disorder called Joubert Syndrome. There is a blog written by one of my friends, who also has a mild version of this disorder, it can be seen here http://rarewriter.blogspot.com/

Joubert is actually a physical disorder caused by a malformation of a part of the brain.

This is what he sounds like in real life:
https://youtu.be/6EPYB1RlPEA

I wonder if my voice sound with this is something I can overcome to "blend in" more, or am I stuck with this for life? I hope nobody derails the subject, but I just want to sound more "normal" more than anything. It's giving me self-esteem issues. I don't sound exactly the same as the link above, but it kind of gives you the gist of it.



the_phoenix
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04 Dec 2016, 7:13 pm

I know someone who has a similar-sounding voice to the man in the video. As an Aspie with acute hearing who sometimes gets distracted by a voice which sounds different in some way from the mainstream, the first time I heard this person I know in real life speak it was distracting and I had to really focus, but now I'm used to it, so it's no big deal at all.

I would say to just speak confidently, saying what you have to say. Decent, mature people will listen respectfully. Jerks will treat you poorly. And an Aspie like me (well, maybe just me, I can't speak for others) may take a little while to get used to it, but will come around just fine ... anyways, there should always be an atmosphere of mutual respect.

...



K_Kelly
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04 Dec 2016, 7:28 pm

My issue is that I want to get into trying drama and theater. I also tend to have "lost" some of my proper word pronunciations over time.



Luhluhluh
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04 Dec 2016, 7:30 pm

I honestly don't notice a difference in his speech, other than he hesitates a lot and has a lot of speech fillers (um, ah, etc.) But his voice itself doesn't strike me as odd at all.

If you really are interested in improving your speech overall there is a group called Toastmasters and members work on their speech and presentation skills. Anyone can join and it's for improving your communication overall in a very relaxed social setting.


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the_phoenix
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04 Dec 2016, 7:37 pm

K_Kelly wrote:
My issue is that I want to get into trying drama and theater. I also tend to have "lost" some of my proper word pronunciations over time.


I was actually going to suggest that a unique voice is perfect for a character actor. :)

As for the proper word pronunciations, as an actor, that is definitely something you should work on.

...



K_Kelly
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04 Dec 2016, 7:40 pm

How do I work on proper word pronunciation in daily life and theater?

And like the video, I notice that like that guy I DO use a lot of speech fillers.



the_phoenix
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04 Dec 2016, 7:49 pm

K_Kelly wrote:
How do I work on proper word pronunciation in daily life and theater?

And like the video, I notice that like that guy I DO use a lot of speech fillers.


The best way would be a voice coach (who specializes in working with actors)
or speech therapist ... of course, this type of training can be expensive!
This may sound silly, but how about an English as a Second Language tutor ... which again, can cost money ...

Or ... do-it-yourself ...
how about making lists of words to practice, and finding YouTube videos on pronunciation?
I've found free YouTube videos on different brands of English accents.

Tell ya what ... I happen to be an English major with teaching experience in my background ...
if you like, send me a list of words
and I'll see if I can find you a few YouTube videos.

I'm also a Klingon language instructor, (yes I am, just gave a class in October) and guess how I learned? 8)

...



K_Kelly
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04 Dec 2016, 7:55 pm

Well, English is my native language in the first place.



the_phoenix
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04 Dec 2016, 8:04 pm

K_Kelly wrote:
Well, English is my native language in the first place.


Yes, I understand that.

Professional actors have voice coaches.

To be a successful actor, your voice is your instrument. You need to know how to breathe, how to enunciate, how to do various accents, how to eliminate vocal fillers like "um" and "er" and "ah" ...

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, to name just two, were both Shakespearean actors ... some of the most well-educated speakers of the English language.

You need to become as expert as you can in English.
Or whatever language it is that you want to audition and play a part in.

So yeah, studying literature helps too.

...



MurdersRow
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05 Dec 2016, 4:22 pm

K_Kelly wrote:
When I was turning 17, I was diagnosed with a mild version of a rare disorder called Joubert Syndrome. There is a blog written by one of my friends, who also has a mild version of this disorder, it can be seen here http://rarewriter.blogspot.com/

Joubert is actually a physical disorder caused by a malformation of a part of the brain.

This is what he sounds like in real life:
https://youtu.be/6EPYB1RlPEA

I wonder if my voice sound with this is something I can overcome to "blend in" more, or am I stuck with this for life? I hope nobody derails the subject, but I just want to sound more "normal" more than anything. It's giving me self-esteem issues. I don't sound exactly the same as the link above, but it kind of gives you the gist of it.



Would speech therapy benefit? My understanding of this disorder is that some obtain tongue abnormalities which I assume effect their speech.



K_Kelly
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30 Dec 2016, 3:08 pm

Also, I just realized that this will be a problem in job interviews. I speak very weird and nasal, like I can't speak "fully" and my speech itself is also a little slow and not fluid. I really want to overcome this burden. What can I do?



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30 Dec 2016, 3:25 pm

Yes, we can benefit from speech therapy, particularly if we make an effort to practice between sessions. Therapy is much less effective without practice.



friedmacguffins
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30 Dec 2016, 3:29 pm

I am not writing from the role of therapist.

From my perspective, as someone who has had my own speech impediments, these are small people, with higher-pitched voices, no matter how perfectly they may form their words.

I do not hear any slurring of the consonants.

But, he is trailing-off, and ending each phrase, in an upward inflection, as to ask a question.

It also occurs to me, since these people are reporting some facial surgeries, online, that they probably sound differently, in their own ears. People hear the sound of their own voices through nasal passages, which may have been naturally pointed in an inopportune direction, or surgically re-routed.

But, from the outside, you may sound fairly-normal. Your speech might be technically-flawless, although you are not the best, public speaker. He wasn't there, for rhetoric and oratory, and it didn't come across as jarring or annoying. The speaker may have been very self-conscious, but the audience may have been understanding. Regardless, I don't feel that he has embarrassed himself.



xile123
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30 Dec 2016, 3:54 pm

I think its relatively common for Autistic people to have unusual voices.



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30 Dec 2016, 4:52 pm

the_phoenix wrote:

I'm also a Klingon language instructor, (yes I am, just gave a class in October) and guess how I learned? 8)

...


Awesome. Without knowing your age it's difficult to guess which Star Trek is yours but I'm going to go with Next Gen and you originally learnt from Worf. Image


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friedmacguffins
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30 Dec 2016, 5:00 pm

K_Kelly wrote:
How do I work on proper word pronunciation in daily life and theater?

And like the video, I notice that like that guy I DO use a lot of speech fillers.


I have found it helpful, to use recordings of myself and other people.

I watch how I look, in a mirror, and on video.

The dictionary, with the audible pronunciation.

The reason why this is useful --
Even the most understanding people have limits.

Do they want to help me, with the same word or phrase, a hundred times.

This way, I can rehearse, without pressure, behind closed doors.

I understand that singing software comes with a mic, and plots the sound of your voice on a line graph, says where you want to be. I feel this would be helpful, to deal with breath control and pitch, but am not great at trouble shooting computer downloads.