sound和voice的区别是什么?
发布网友
发布时间：2022-04-24 16:48
共5个回答
热心网友
时间：2023-08-24 02:59
一、词义广泛性不一样
1）sound
英 [saʊnd] 美 [saʊnd]
1、v. 听（诊）；测量，测…深
2、n. 声音，语音；噪音；海峡
3、adj. 健全的，健康的；合理的
4、adv. 彻底地，充分地
2）voice
英 [vɒɪs] 美 [vɔɪs]
1、n. 声音；嗓音；发言权；愿望
2、v. 表达；吐露
二、变形词不一样
1）sound
第三人称单数： sounds 复数： sounds 现在分词： sounding 过去式： sounded 过去分词： sounded 比较级： sounder 最高级： soundest
2）voice
第三人称单数： voices 复数： voices 现在分词： voicing 过去式： voiced 过去分词： voiced
三、词义辨析不一样
1）sound n. 声音
〔辨析〕普通用词，泛指耳朵能听到的任何声响。
〔例证〕What made these sounds?
这些声音是怎么回事?
2）voice n. 嗓音
〔辨析〕主要指人的说话声和歌唱声。
〔例证〕His voice quivered with rage.
他气得声音发抖。
热心网友
时间：2023-08-24 02:59
sound，noise和voice这三个名词都可表示“声音”，但是，它们表示的“声音”并不相同。
1. sound作“声音”，“响声”讲时，可以指人或动物发出的声音，或物体碰撞的声言。这个词的使用范围很大。可以说，大自然的任何“声音”都可以用sound。例如：
At midnight he heard a strange sound．半夜里他听到一种奇怪的声音。
Light travels much faster than sound．光的传播速度比声音快得多。
2. noise意为“噪音”、“喧闹声”，常指不悦耳、不和谐的嘈杂声。例如：
Don’t make any noise! 别吵闹！
The noise wakes me up．噪音吵醒了我！
The noise of traffic kept him awake．车辆的喧闹声使他睡不着。
3. voice一般指人的声音，说话、唱歌。谈笑都可用voice。sound和noise不仅能指人的声音，还可以表示别的动物发出的声音；而voice除了有时可指鸟的声音外，很少表示其它动物的声音。例如：
The girl has a beautiful voice．那女孩嗓音很美。
They are talking in low voices．他们正小声交谈。
When the teacher came into the classroom，our monitor spoke in a loud voice，“Stand up！”
老师走进教室时，班长大声喊：“起立！”
热心网友
时间：2023-08-24 03:00
AHD:[sound]
D.J.:[saund]
K.K.:[sa]
n.
Vibrations transmitted through an elastic material or a solid, liquid, or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
Such sensations considered as a group.
A distinctive noise:
a hollow sound.
The distance over which something can be heard:
within sound of my voice.
Linguistics
An articulation made by the vocal apparatus:
a vowel sound; a speech sound.
The distinctive character of such an articulation:
The words bear and bare have the same sound.
A mental impression; an implication:
didn't like the sound of the invitation.
Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.
Meaningless noise.
Music
A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or a singer.
Archaic
Rumor; report.
sound
v.
sound.ed; sound.ing; sounds;
sound
v.intr.
To make or give forth a sound:
The siren sounded.
To be given forth as a sound:
The fanfare sounded.
To present a particular impression:
That argument sounds reasonable.
sound
v.tr.
To cause to give forth or proce a sound:
sounded the gong.
To summon, announce, or signal by a sound:
sound a warning.
Linguistics
To articulate; pronounce:
sound a vowel.
To make known; celebrate:
揘ations unborn your mighty names shall sound?Alexander Pope)
To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.
sound off
To express one's views vigorously:
was always sounding off about higher taxes.
To count cadence when marching in military formation.
Middle English soun
fromOld French son
fromLatin sonus
*See Also : swen- In Appendix
sound
AHD:[sound]
D.J.:[saund]
K.K.:[sa]
adj.
sound.er; sound.est;
Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition.
Free from disease or injury.
See: healthy
Having a firm basis; unshakable:
a sound foundation.
Financially secure or safe:
a sound economy.
Based on valid reasoning:
a sound observation.
See: valid
Free from logical flaws:
sound reasoning.
Logic
Of or relating to an argument in which all the premises are true and the conclusion follows from the premises.
Thorough; complete:
a sound flogging.
Deep and unbroken; undisturbed:
a sound sleep.
Free from moral defect; upright.
Worthy of confidence; trustworthy.
Marked by or showing common sense and good judgment; levelheaded:
a sound approach to the problem.
Compatible with an accepted point of view; conservative.
Law
Legally valid.
sound
adv.
Thoroughly; deeply:
sound asleep.
Middle English
fromOld English gesund
sound搇y adv
sound搉ess n
sound
AHD:[sound]
D.J.:[saund]
K.K.:[sa]
adj.
sound.er; sound.est;
Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition.
完好的无疵的，没有腐损的或完好无损伤的；完好的
Free from disease or injury.
健全的没有疾病或损伤的
See: healthy
Having a firm basis; unshakable:
基础牢固的；不可动摇的：
a sound foundation.
牢固的基础
Financially secure or safe:
财政上充实的或安全的：
a sound economy.
殷实的经济
Based on valid reasoning:
合理的建立在有效推理之上的：
a sound observation.
合理的说法
See: valid
Free from logical flaws:
没有逻辑错误的：
sound reasoning.
符合逻辑的推理
Logic
【逻辑学】
Of or relating to an argument in which all the premises are true and the conclusion follows from the premises.
推理的某种论点的或与之有关的，这种论点中的所有前提都是真实的，而且结论来源于前提
Thorough; complete:
彻底的；完全的：
a sound flogging.
狠狠的鞭打
Deep and unbroken; undisturbed:
深沉而不间断的；不受打扰的：
a sound sleep.
酣睡
Free from moral defect; upright.
没有道德缺点的；正直的
Worthy of confidence; trustworthy.
值得信任的；值得信赖的
Marked by or showing common sense and good judgment; levelheaded:
有识别力的表现基本常识及良好判断或者具有这种特点的；头脑清醒的：
a sound approach to the problem.
对该问题见解正确的方法
Compatible with an accepted point of view; conservative.
保守的与被接受的观点相一致的；保守的
Law
【法律】
Legally valid.
法律上有效的
sound
adv.
Thoroughly; deeply:
充分地；酣畅地：
sound asleep.
酣睡
Middle English
中古英语
fromOld English gesund
源自古英语 gesund
sound搇y adv
sound搉ess n
sound
AHD:[sound]
D.J.:[saund]
K.K.:[sa]
n.
Vibrations transmitted through an elastic material or a solid, liquid, or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
声音，响声通过有弹性的物质或者固体、液体或气体传送的振动，频率在20至20,000赫兹之间，能够被人的听觉器官感觉到
Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
声音传送过来的任何频率的振动
The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
听力受空气或其他传媒中这种振动的刺激，而在听觉器官中产生的感觉
Such sensations considered as a group.
听力系统被认为是一个群体的这种感觉
A distinctive noise:
很明显的闹声、嘈杂声：
a hollow sound.
沉闷的嘈杂声
The distance over which something can be heard:
听力范围某种东西能被听见的距离：
within sound of my voice.
在我声音的听距之内
Linguistics
【语言学】
An articulation made by the vocal apparatus:
音由发声装置所发出的声音：
a vowel sound; a speech sound.
元音；演讲音
A mental impression; an implication:
弦外之音；言外之意：
didn't like the sound of the invitation.
不喜欢这次邀请所含的弦外之音
Music
【音乐】
A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or a singer.
（如交响乐队或歌手的）独特音乐风格
Archaic
【古语】
Rumor; report.
谣传；讯息
sound
v.
sound.ed; sound.ing; sounds;
sound
v.intr.
To make or give forth a sound:
作声，发声制造或发出声响：
The siren sounded.
汽笛响起来了
To be given forth as a sound:
被吹响，被奏响：
The fanfare sounded.
响亮的喇叭声吹起来
To present a particular impression:
听起来给人一种特别的印象：
That argument sounds reasonable.
那个观点听起来有道理
sound
v.tr.
To cause to give forth or proce a sound:
使发出或产生声响：
sounded the gong.
敲锣
To summon, announce, or signal by a sound:
发出信号以声音召集、宣布或发信号：
sound a warning.
发出警告
Linguistics
【语言学】
To articulate; pronounce:
发…的音；发音：
sound a vowel.
发一个元音
To make known; celebrate:
使知名；庆贺（祝）：
揘ations unborn your mighty names shall sound?Alexander Pope)
“未诞生的国家，你们英武的名字应传颂”(亚历山大·波普)
To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.
听诊，听验通过使发出声音而检查（身体器官或部分）；听诊
sound off
To express one's views vigorously:
高声谈论有力地抒发自己的见解：
was always sounding off about higher taxes.
总是就更高税收有力地抒发自己的见解
To count cadence when marching in military formation.
报数喊行军齐步走口令
中古英语 soun
源自古法语 son
源自拉丁语 sonus
*See Also : swen- In Appendix
sound1
sound源自拉丁语sonus声，词根是son
[saJnd]
n
声音，声响
the sound of birds singing
鸟儿歌唱的声音
（文字或语言的声音所产生的）印象，感觉
sound
vt, vi
似乎；听起来
His explanation sounds all right.
他的解释似乎有理。
Your idea sounds a good one.
你的想法听起来很好。
Your proposal sounds quite feasible.
你的提议听起来很可行。
发声，使发出声响，产生声音
When the bell sounds，you must come in.
铃响时，你必须进来。
发音；读出
correct firm healthy hearty logical pronounce rational reasonable right safe sane secure sensible solid solvent stable strong substantial
utter voice wholesome
silence unsound
sound2
[saJnd]
adj
完好的；健全的
坚实的；稳固的
sound rock
坚硬的岩石
I've repaired the roof and it's quite sound now.
我修了屋顶，现在它挺坚固的。
可靠的；确实的；正确的
深沉的；平静 的（睡眠）
He's in a sound sleep.
他睡得很香。
严厉的；重的
a sound slap
重重的一巴掌
sound
adv
（睡得）很沉稳
correct firm healthy hearty logical pronounce rational reasonable right safe sane secure sensible solid solvent stable strong substantial
utter voice wholesome
silence unsound
sound3
[saJnd]
vt, vi
用测探索测探…的水深
（与out连用）试探他人意见或意向
correct firm healthy hearty logical pronounce rational reasonable right safe sane secure sensible solid solvent stable strong substantial
utter voice wholesome
silence unsound
sound4
[saJnd]
n
海湾
海峡
correct firm healthy hearty logical pronounce rational reasonable right safe sane secure sensible solid solvent stable strong substantial
utter voice wholesome
silence unsound
sound
[saund]
adj.
健全的, 健康的, 完好的
正确的, 合理的, 稳 妥的
坚固的, 安全的, 可靠的, 正派[统]的
有偿付能力的, 资金充实的
严厉的, 充分的, 彻底的
有判断力的, 见解正确的
诚实可靠的, 道德高尚的
【律】有效的
children of sound mind and body
身心健康的孩子
sound advice
忠告
a sound argument
理由充足的论点
a sound investment
稳妥的投资
soundthrashing[reprimand]
痛打[斥]
a sound sleep
酣睡
Is he sound on the problem?
他对这个问题的见解是否正确?
sound
[saund]
adv.
充分地, 彻底地
soundness
[5saundnis]
n.
as sound as a bell [roach]
很健全[健康]
sound in life and limb
安然无恙, 平平安安
sound in wind and limb
[口]身体健全的
见 valid; healthy
sound
[saund]
vt.
测量, 探测, 锤测
试探 (out)
【医】用探针检查(尿道等)
sound sb. (out) on [about] a question
试探某人对一个问题的意见
sound
[saund]
vi.
测水深, 探测
试探, 调查
(鲸鱼等)突然潜入海底
n.
【医】探条[针]
sound out
试探出, 打听出(别人的)意见
sound
[saund]
n.
海峡, 海湾
【动】气胞, 鳔
乌贼, 鱿鱼
salted sounds
咸鳔
sound
[saund]
n.
(声)音, (音)响, 发音
噪音, 各种声音
音调, 语调, 含意
听力的范围; 声音所到的距离
录音
音乐风格
[古]谣传; 名声; 意义; 印象; 消息
【物】声(音), 声学
sound track
声迹, 声带
sound box
共鸣箱
sound pollution
噪声污染
sound recording
录音
I don't like the sound of this letter.
我不喜欢这封信的语气。
sound
[saund]
vi.
响, 发声, 回响, 召唤
听起来, 令人觉得
被提到
基于某物 (in)
【律】具有...的性质, 具有...要求(in), 可用金钱衡量赔偿
The trumpet sounds for battle.
战斗号角吹响了。
How sweet the music sounds!
这音乐听起来多悦耳!
That excuse sounds queer.
那个借口听起来有点怪。
This sounds like a fiction.
这简直象编成的故事一样。
sound
[saund]
vt.
使发声[响]
吹号命令[通知, 庆祝], 吹...号
表达, 发表
发(声)
宣告, 传播
说, 讲
敲(听声音)检(查); 【医】敲诊, 听诊
sound a horn
吹号角
sound the alarm
发警报
sound the lungs
听诊肺音
sound-absorbing
adj.
吸声的, 吸音的
soundboard
n.
共振板
sound-bow
n.
钟身被敲击处
sound-box
n.
(电唱机)唱头; 【音】共鸣箱
sound-change
n.
音变
sound-concting
adj.
侍[扬]音的
sound-deadeners
n.
减声器
sound-energy
n.
声能
sound-groove
n.
(机械录音)声纹
sound-hole
n.
钟楼播声洞
sound-level
n.
声级
sound-proof(ing)
adj.
隔音, 有隔音设备的
sound-ranging
n.
声隔测距法
sound-shift
n.
语音演变
sound-soft
adj.
声音软的
sound-stripe
n.
录音磁基
sound-substitution
n.
声音代替
sound-track
n.
声迹
sound-trap
n.
声阱; 声频信号陷波器
sound-type
n.
(语)音(类)型
sound-variation
n.
语音变异, 语音变化
sound-wave
n.
声波
soundable
adj.
可(以)发声(音)的
in [within] (the)sound of
在能听见...的地方
out of sound of
在听不见...的地方
sound and fury
大吵大闹
sound off
[美俚]高谈阔论, 夸夸其谈
说大话, 吹牛
【军】报数, 报名; 呼行军令口令
abnormal sound
异声; 不正常声音
abstract sound
抽象声音
accompanying sound
伴声, 伴音
airborne sound
空气载声
大气噪声
ambient sound
环境(噪)声
anacamptic sound
回声,回音
atmosphericsound
大气声学
audiblesound
可闻声
background sound
配音,背景声
binauralsound
立体声
co-channelsound
同频道伴音
combined sound
混声
combined magnetic sound
(影片上)合成的磁性声带
combined optical sound
(影片上)合成的光学录音声带
compatible discrete four-channel sound
兼容独立四通道声
complexsound
复合声
composite sound
复合声, 合成声
crakling sound
连续喀啦声, 连接爆裂声
cutting sound
声剪辑, 伴音剪辑
danger sound
危险声音
dental sound
齿音
detection unit sound
伴音检波器
diaphragm-transmitted sound
膜片传出声
diffuse sound
散射声; 漫射声
direct sound
直达声
distinctive sound
区别性语音
distorted sound
失真声, 畸变声
al channel sound
双(通道)伴音方式
effect sound
特技声, 效果声音
eolian sounds
风吹声
exhaust sound
排气声音
explosive sound
爆炸声
exponential sounds
幂数语音(指重音、音高等)
final sound
韵母, 收尾音素
forward scattered sound
前向散射声
four-channel sound
四声道(系统), 四声道(设备)
fractive sound
摩擦声
frequency-molated sound
频调声
fundamental sound
基声
glide sound
过渡音
guide sound
控制声
heart sound
心音
heterorganic sounds
异发音器官音(如b和d)
hissing sound
咝音
homorganic sounds
同部位音(如d和t)
hushing sound
唏音, 嘘音(指颚化咝音, 如ch, sh)
hypersonicsound
特超声
impactsound
冲击声,碰撞声
impulsivesound
冲击声
infrasonic sound
次声, 亚声
infra-audible [infrasonic] sound
次声
inhaled sound
吸气音
intercarrier sound
载波差拍伴音
intermediate sound
中间音, 混合(元)音
key sound
键音
急促声响(舞台效果)
labial sound
唇音(如p, b, m, w)
labiodental sound
唇齿音(如f, v)
linear sound
线性声源
married sound
图象伴音混合
masking sound
掩蔽声
median sound
中间音(如r, y, w)
monaural sound
单耳传声
monophonic sound
单通道扩声
musical sound
音乐声
nonspeech sound
非言语语音
nuclear sound
核心语音(指音节中的元音)
optical sound
光学声迹
original sound
原声
outgoing sound
输出声
paragogic sound (phoneme, syllable)
(词末)附加音(音素, 音节)
pattern sound
模式音, 音位
perceived sounds
感觉的声音
percussive sound
震音, 击发声
phonetic sound
语音
primary vowel sound
基本元音
programme sound
节目音响
pulse sound
脉冲声
pure sound
纯声
reverberant sound
混响声
reverberant steady-state sound
混响稳态声
rushing sound
噪声
second sound
(低温)第二声
single-frequency sound
单频声
solid borne sound [noise]
固体载声
speech sound
(言语)语音
stereophonic sound
立体声
successive sounds
接续音(相当于音段音位)
sucking sound
吸气音
suspicious sound
可疑音
sustained sound
持续声
svarabhakti sound
[梵语]滑音
television sound
电视伴音
time-division sound
【信】时(间)分(割)伴音
transistorized sound
晶体管伴音电路
ultra sound
超声(波)
ultra audible sound
超声
ultrasonic sound
超声波
underwater sound
水(下)声(学)
undesired sound
*声
unheard sound
听觉外的声音, 听不到的声音
unpitched sound
无调声, 噪声
unvoiced sound
非语言声, 非语音
unwanted sound
无用声, 干扰声
velar sound
舌根音(如k, g后颚音)
vesicular sound
肺泡音
vocal sound
口声
voiced sound
【声】浊音
voiced speech sound
浊语言声
vowel sound
元音声
whispered sound
耳语声
whistling sound
啸声
sound on vision
伴音干扰(图象), 图象中的声干扰
sound noise tone
都含“声音”的意思。
sound系常用词, 泛指“任何声音, 不论高低、大小、是否悦耳或有无意义”, 如:
the sound of footsteps
脚步声。
noise指“任何混杂、嘈杂、刺耳或起干扰作用、令人厌烦的声音”, 如:
Don't make such a noise.
不要这样吵闹。
tone指“音的高低、强弱、性质或说话的语调”, 如:
He has a clear tone .
他嗓音洪亮。
sound
[ saund ]
n.声音, 语音, 噪音, 吵闹, 海峡, 听力范围
adj.健全的, 可靠的, 合理的, 有效彻底的, 絔档?
adv.彻底地, 充分地
vi.发出声音, 回响, 测深, 听起来
vt.使发声, 宣告, 听诊, 测...深, 试探
voice
AHD:[vois]
D.J.:[v%is]
K.K.:[v%!s]
n.abbr:v.
The sound proced by the vocal organs of a vertebrate, especially a human being.
The ability to proce such sounds.
A specified quality, condition, or pitch of vocal sound:
a hoarse voice; the child's piping voice.
Linguistics
Expiration of air through vibrating vocal cords, used in the proction of vowels and voiced consonants.
A sound resembling or reminiscent of vocal utterance:
the murmuring voice of the forest.
Music
Musical sound proced by vibration of the human vocal cords and resonated within the throat and head cavities.
The quality or condition of a person's singing:
a baritone in excellent voice.
A singer:
a choir of excellent voices.
V9
One of the indivial parts or strands in a composition:
a fugue for four voices; string voices carrying the melody.
Also called: voice part
Expression; utterance:
gave voice to their feelings at the meeting.
A medium or an agency of expression:
a newsletter that serves as a neighborhood voice.
The right or opportunity to express a choice or an opinion:
a territory that has a voice, but not a vote, in Congress.
Grammar
A property of verbs or a set of verb inflections indicating the relation between the subject and the action expressed by the verb:
揃irds build nests?uses the active voice; 搉ests built by birds?uses the passive voice.
The distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or a character in a book.
voice
v.tr.
voiced; voic.ing; voic.es;
To give voice to; utter:
voice a grievance.
See: vent
Linguistics
To pronounce with vibration of the vocal cords.
Music
To provide (a composition) with voice parts.
To regulate the tone of (the pipes of an organ, for example).
with one voice
In complete agreement; unanimously:
Our group rejected the proposal with one voice.
Middle English
fromOld French vois
fromLatin v絰 v絚-
*See Also : wekw In Appendix-
voice
AHD:[vois]
D.J.:[v%is]
K.K.:[v%!s]
n.abbr:v.
The sound proced by the vocal organs of a vertebrate, especially a human being.
说话声，口声脊椎动物用发音器官制造的声音，尤指人类
The ability to proce such sounds.
发声能力制造这种声音的能力
A specified quality, condition, or pitch of vocal sound:
嗓音语音具体的质量、条件或声高：
a hoarse voice; the child's piping voice.
嘶哑的声音；孩子的尖声
Linguistics
【语言学】
Expiration of air through vibrating vocal cords, used in the proction of vowels and voiced consonants.
声音通过振动的声带呼出气体，用于制造元音和浊辅音
A sound resembling or reminiscent of vocal utterance:
声象或令人想起语音的声音：
the murmuring voice of the forest.
森林的低语
Music
【音乐】
Musical sound proced by vibration of the human vocal cords and resonated within the throat and head cavities.
人声通过声带振动并在喉腔和头腔共鸣产生的声音
The quality or condition of a person's singing:
歌唱才能一个人歌唱的质量或条件：
a baritone in excellent voice.
歌喉极佳的男中音
A singer:
歌唱家：
a choir of excellent voices.
优秀歌唱家的合唱
V9
One of the indivial parts or strands in a composition:
声部乐曲中个体部分或声部之一：
a fugue for four voices; string voices carrying the melody.
四声部的赋格曲；弦乐声部演奏旋律
Also called: voice part
Expression; utterance:
表达，表露；说出：
gave voice to their feelings at the meeting.
在会议上表达他们的感觉
A medium or an agency of expression:
喉舌，代言人表达的中介或媒介：
a newsletter that serves as a neighborhood voice.
成为邻里间喉舌的一份简讯
The right or opportunity to express a choice or an opinion:
发言权表达一个选择或意见的权力或机会：
a territory that has a voice, but not a vote, in Congress.
在议会中享有发言权，但没有投票权的地区
Grammar
【语法】
A property of verbs or a set of verb inflections indicating the relation between the subject and the action expressed by the verb:
语态，语声动词或一系列动词屈折变化的形式，表示物体和动词所表达的动作之间的关系：
揃irds build nests?uses the active voice; 搉ests built by birds?uses the passive voice.
“鸟筑巢”用主动语态；“被鸟筑的巢”用被动语态
The distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or a character in a book.
风格，特征作者或书中人物的独特的风格或表达方式
voice
v.tr.
voiced; voic.ing; voic.es;
To give voice to; utter:
表达；说出：
voice a grievance.
表达出悲哀
See: vent
Linguistics
【语言学】
To pronounce with vibration of the vocal cords.
发音通过声带振动来发出声
热心网友
时间：2023-08-24 03:00
n.声音, 语音, 噪音, 吵闹, 海峡, 听力范围, 探条
adj.健全的, 可靠的, 合理的, 有效彻底的, 健康的
adv.彻底地, 充分地
vi.发出声音, 回响, 测深, 听起来
vt.使发声, 宣告, 听诊, 测...深, 试探
voice [简明英汉词典]
n.声音, 嗓音, 发音能力, 意见, 发言权, [语法]语态
vt.表达, 吐露
noise [简明英汉词典]
n.喧闹声, 噪声, 噪音
热心网友
时间：2023-08-24 03:01
by Christopher Meeks
Developing a voice in your writing is a notion that passes over me every now and then like the "thung" sound of an error message on my computer. "I should develop a voice," I think. "My voice is off today," I think. "Maybe I should work on that voice thing," I think.
To some people, the image of "voice" may be akin to a rotund person belting something out in Italian in front of a lot of penguin-suited people paying big bucks waiting for the crystal to shatter. It's not a bad image, though, because a solid voice in writing should indeed stimulate and shatter.
Or, if that metaphor's a bit too extreme, think of "voice" as simply like your own voice. Despite how many people there are, our voices are rarely so similar that someone would confuse you for someone else. That's just how a voice in writing is—it's clearly you.
A voice on the Web: Strive to create a "text" voice that is as distinctive as your speaking voice.
We can't all be Hemingway: Don't try to write like someone else; find your own voice and don't try to change your demeanor.
Write like you talk: It really can be that simple.
Let your passion be your guide: Follow the urge; follow the idea.
Let me entertain you: All writing, even the most serious, is a form of entertainment. Find the words that keep your reader interested.
Your view on the world: Your specialty, your interests will color your view on the world—not to mention your writing.
Find the feeling: If you find the feeling that belongs to a piece of writing, the piece may write itself. There is no bad first draft. Let yourself go.
Since most of the information on the Web is text, you want your text to have a real voice, like your own. Not some "official" dry voice like one of those monotone announcements at the airport, but something that reads like a real person, something with some life in it.
I can recognize voice in other people's work. I simply have a difficult time seeing it in my own. [Editor's note: Chris actually sounds an awful lot like he writes, but just the way your own voice may sound strange when you hear it on a recording, sometimes writers don't hear their own voice in their own writing, which is where a good editor comes in :) Now, back to our regularly scheled programming.]
One of the great voices of the century is Ernest Hemingway. His voice, especially in parodies of his work, is quite recognizable. What made his work last so long, however, was his ability to hone and hone and hone his work until every word was the one he wanted—and the words carried power.
Is there a way to work on "voice"?
OK, we aren't Hemingway...
We all want to change the way the next few generations speak, write, and think. The truth is, it's more important to learn how to write in your own distinctive voice than to try to write like someone else. Maybe your style isn't dramatic. Maybe it's soft-spoken. Or direct. Casual, or formal.
How do we do that? Here are some of my thoughts--in random order--on the subject:
Most days I don't worry about voice. It's like worrying about whether you're tall enough or not. You may be too short for your pleasure, sure, but what can you do about it, aside from high heels? It's like analyzing your personality. If you're morose overall, are you going to start telling jokes? If everyone thinks of you as quiet, are you going to talk a lot until everyone forgets that quiet person you really are? If you write with honesty (see last month's column), you're likely to be spilling out a voice whether you know it or not. Write, and they will come.
Write like you talk. It really can be that simple. Say something. Then write it. Use a tape recorder if you want. When you're done, read what you wrote, aloud. If it sounds stilted or wooden, stop for a moment. Think about what you're trying to say. Say it aloud. Then write it down.
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me. Let it be. Actually, the person who comes to me is my late friend, Robert Lee. As I mentioned in the previous column, he said the writer or artist "cannot know what he or she's doing. And the more people let themselves be bugged about 'Art,' the more trouble they make for themselves."
In other words, let your passion and what you're trying to say guide you. Don't try to be who you're not. Lee added, "I think you must follow the urge, follow yourself, follow the child within you, do the Joe Campbell bit: 'Follow your bliss.' Follow the implantations from your senses. We're constantly having transplants of ideas. The big thing today is organ transplants, but we're also discovering renewed spiritual health through the transplantation of ideas. This is an even more spectacular advance because it's the way nations change. Think of the transition from feudalism to the Enlightenment. The key was there. The key was turned. The door opened. The artists entered."
Writing is entertainment. Another writer with a practical sense about him is novelist John Berendt (Midnight at the Garden of Good and Evil) who, in a list of 10 suggestions, includes this advice: "Think of writing, even the most serious writing, as a medium of entertainment. I mean entertainment in the broadest sense: engaging the reader's mind and keeping the reader interested. What good is a piece of writing, however brilliant, if nobody reads it all the way through? Always ask yourself, 'Are they still paying attention?'" In other words, if you concern yourself with the reader more than concerning yourself with you ("Let's talk about me") then you're subconsciously working on a good voice. This also suggests that "voice" can be tweaked. If you realize you're not funny enough or interesting enough, you can go back and rewrite. Rewrite. Writing is about rewriting.
Everyone sees the world through his or her own specialty. A novelist I know went on a blind date with an optometrist (built-in irony!), and she not only suggested new glasses for him, but after the movie they saw, she spoke about which actors had contacts or needed glasses. He spoke about the film in literary terms, of its "character arc" and "turning points." Their specialties made them see the film in different ways.
When my wife and I were on our honeymoon in Denmark, we attended a Mid-Summer Night celebration (the first day of summer, the longest day for sunlight). As we were walking back from the big bonfire, still sk at 10 p.m., I happened to be talking with a physicist, who was smiling about the fire and said how simple the universe was. Everything—my shirt, the moon, the fire we just witnessed—all could be reced to the elements of the periodic chart. To him, the fire was all about atoms arranged a certain way. To me, the fire was about the drama of neighborhood people throwing a figure of a human onto a furnace fueled by wood. In other words, we each carry our voice with us.
"Finding the right voice will help you write better than you ever thought yourself capable of writing." say author Ken MacRorie in Telling Writing. And how do you find that voice? "There is nothing so good as feeling to control actions… If you can find the feeling that belongs to a piece of writing you want to create, then the composing may be accomplished almost without your help, and it will be true in tone, and compelling."
He's saying there's an instinct that takes control if you allow yourself to let your words flow. Remember, there is no bad first draft. Let yourself make mistakes—you can fix them later—but in letting yourself go, you'll also come up with material that surprises you.
Let yourself go as in dancing. If you concentrate on every step when you dance, your rhythm will be artificial (if you have rhythm at all).
Feel the music and move with it. Feel the rhythm of words, feel the poetry pull at you. Let out a haiku. Put in some alliteration. The sound is around you. Let go. Let it be. Type. Flow.
Boom. That's it.
