Tuesday, July 29, 2014

When I read, I hear the authors voice

I caught myself doing it again today; I was reading an interesting article on the net and in my head, I heard a male voice with a cockney accent, pronouncing the words. The author had no name or photo on the page I was reading, no hint of who they were, female or male. So I searched. A few clicks later and here is a photo of the author, an older gentlemen. I don't know where he is from or even if the voice I'm hearing in my head, reading word by word, is how he speaks.
 I've yet to find a name for this phenomenon. It makes no logical sense.
 This has happened to me repeatedly, throughout my life. I pick up a book, I hear either: my own voice (which has only become the predominant reading voice in the past couple years, a male voice or a female voice. I'll hear accents, and tones that may be the authors.
 I try and test myself, at times. I'll just pick up a magazine, start reading and listen to try and describe the gender, age and accent of the writer. I haven't done this in awhile. This cockney, accent, older gentlemans writing was quite distinct and prominent, so this is really the first time I've tested it in awhile.
 Not sure what to call it...or if it even Has a name. I'm assured that I'm not making it up, as this is just too weirdy to make up.
 I remember how odd it was, a couple years back, when I heard my own voice in my head reading. I'm guessing it's just something to take for granted. But, I really couldn't find my own voice until recently. I don't know. Maybe the fact that I couldn't hear my own voice allowed me to pretend I was hearing the author read to me.
 So many questions. No answers.
 Just thought I'd mention it in hopes of finding someone else who has experienced something so distinctly odd.
 Amy