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What does your internal monologue sound like?

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Enthryn (they/them) Since: Nov, 2010
(they/them)
#1: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:26:08 PM

When you think in words, does it sound like a voice, and what does it sound like? Same questions for the voice you think in when you read text. Also, for multilingual people, how does it change with what language you're reading?

Mine is a voice in spoken English — I think in American English phonetics and all that — but it usually doesn't seem to have any identifiable vocal traits beyond that. The abstract sounds are there, but there's no information about the pitch or volume or quality of it; it's almost like a concept of a "generic voice" or something.

I'm curious if it's similar for other people.

HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#2: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:31:24 PM

Usually it's my own perceived voice, occasionally these days it's Mark from Peep Show.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
LoniJay from Australia Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
#3: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:32:52 PM

Me. Although sometimes various different versions of me pop up and then it sounds like an argument.

I'm pretty sure everyone's like that... right?

Be not afraid...
Enthryn (they/them) Since: Nov, 2010
(they/them)
#4: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:34:57 PM

Yeah, I guess when I'm picturing myself talk, it sounds more like how I perceive my voice. Still, most of the time, especially if I'm just thinking or reading, it doesn't sound like anyone at all, just the sounds in isolation.

edited 29th Feb '12 11:35:28 PM by Enthryn

MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#5: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:37:15 PM

Loni: heh, that's how I am.

ThatHuman someone from someplace Since: Jun, 2010
someone
#6: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:39:16 PM

It's a voice that's vague and hard-to-define...

and that totally suits me, no?

something
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#7: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:40:01 PM

Morgan Freeman.

I recommend this sort of internal monologue for almost anyone.

Nyarly Das kann doch nicht sein! from Saksa Since: Feb, 2012
Das kann doch nicht sein!
#8: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:55:54 PM

If it had a sound, it wouldn't be internal. In other words, I don't actually imagine a voice.

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.
RainbowMatt Prettiest Pony :3 from the cave of unspeakable naughtiness Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Prettiest Pony :3
#9: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:56:46 PM

Mine is my own voice. I do not know why, but for some reason I find it odd it wouldn't be that way.

Devypu's~ Big Pony :3
AikoHeiwa I AM NOT A TREE from Aikoland Since: Feb, 2011
I AM NOT A TREE
#10: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:58:36 PM

It's usually either Morgan Freeman or some British voice.

NO TREE FOR ME (ALSO LOVES HER BOYFRIEND)
Nyarly Das kann doch nicht sein! from Saksa Since: Feb, 2012
Das kann doch nicht sein!
#11: Feb 29th 2012 at 11:59:30 PM

Morgan Freeman seems to be a popular choice for internal monologues.

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.
MarkVonLewis Since: Jun, 2010
#12: Mar 1st 2012 at 12:00:19 AM

I prefer the voice of Malcolm Mc Dowell, myself.

edited 1st Mar '12 12:00:36 AM by MarkVonLewis

Malph (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#13: Mar 1st 2012 at 12:13:48 AM

My normal voice.

Except sometimes it has a English accent.

whaleofyournightmare Decemberist from contemplation Since: Jul, 2011
Decemberist
#14: Mar 1st 2012 at 12:19:21 AM

What the hell is a "British Accent" or "English Accent" anyway

Dutch Lesbian
AikoHeiwa I AM NOT A TREE from Aikoland Since: Feb, 2011
I AM NOT A TREE
#15: Mar 1st 2012 at 12:22:23 AM

Daniel Radcliffe

NO TREE FOR ME (ALSO LOVES HER BOYFRIEND)
Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#16: Mar 1st 2012 at 12:25:27 AM

When I've been using English for a while, my internal monologue switches to it. But of course, it switches back very quickly when I start using my native tongue.

As for how it sounds like, that also varies depending on the language. My Italian internal monologue sounds more or less like me, I think. My English internal monologue, however, is not very verbalized at all — it is more visual, and I perceive it more or less as writing.

I suppose that it depends from the fact that I started learning English relatively late (at 11), and that for most of my life I've been reading and writing English far more often than I've been speaking it and listening to it...

edited 1st Mar '12 12:25:54 AM by Carciofus

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
ElRigo I'm freezing! Send help! from Baja Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Awaiting my mail-order bride
I'm freezing! Send help!
#17: Mar 1st 2012 at 1:29:47 AM

My internal monologue sounds exactly like me, only he talks a lot faster.

EDIT, why do I keep making so many typos? I only fail at grammar so much in this forum.

edited 1st Mar '12 1:30:23 AM by ElRigo

Talby Since: Jun, 2009
#18: Mar 1st 2012 at 1:41:28 AM

A muted, less elastic-y sounding version of my own voice.

edited 1st Mar '12 1:41:48 AM by Talby

ParkingCetacean I don't know. from a computer Since: Oct, 2011
I don't know.
#19: Mar 1st 2012 at 2:00:15 AM

Gilbert Gottfried.

It's my own voice, but I'm pretty sure the pitch (or is it tone, I forget) is off a bit. Like how when you say something and listen to a recording of it, and your voice is a bit higher or lower than you heard while you were saying it. Or maybe that's just me. It's about that same pitch change from how I hear myself.

Sometimes if I try to get my thoughts to sound like someone else, well, it doesn't work very well. (I think) it sounds / would sound like I'm trying to imitate the person's voice, even though I'm not actually saying anything.

With the exception of music. But that's different.

Also, I'm not really counting how intrusive thoughts or random 'background thoughts' sound.

On a similar note, I'm wondering how quickly I think compared to other people. I pretty much just think at talking speed. Although, if I focus on it, whenever I think something, I can feel the thought planned out before I 'say' it in my mind.

And to say I was nervous... it wouldn't be quite enough.
ElRigo I'm freezing! Send help! from Baja Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Awaiting my mail-order bride
I'm freezing! Send help!
#20: Mar 1st 2012 at 2:05:32 AM

Question, does your internal monologue go external a lot?

Carciofus Is that cake frosting? from Alpha Tucanae I Since: May, 2010
Is that cake frosting?
#21: Mar 1st 2012 at 3:08:19 AM

Rarely. And when it does, it is not generally fully formed phrases, just disconnected words and mumbles.

A fun example: in Italian, "dai" (pronounced exactly like the English verb "die") means more or less "come on". Now, one day I was having a bit of trouble concentrating on what I was studying, and so I said "dai, <myname>" (as in, come on, <myname>, you can work better than this).

But from the point of the people I was nearby, I had just loudly wished death on myself... tongue

But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
ThatHuman someone from someplace Since: Jun, 2010
someone
#22: Mar 1st 2012 at 3:10:13 AM

If/when it does, it's pretty much me whispering to myself or generally not heard by anybody else.

edited 1st Mar '12 3:11:21 AM by ThatHuman

something
Exelixi Lesbarian from Alchemist's workshop Since: Sep, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
Lesbarian
#23: Mar 1st 2012 at 3:13:07 AM

My own voice, as I perceive that it should be. No artificial heightening to sound less intimidating and no effected newscaster accent.

When speaking or reading another language (that I understand), it switches pretty smoothly back and forth.

edited 1st Mar '12 3:14:44 AM by Exelixi

Mura: -flips the bird to veterinary science with one hand and Euclidean geometry with the other-
ekuseruekuseru 名無しさん from Australia Since: Oct, 2009
名無しさん
#24: Mar 1st 2012 at 3:44:20 AM

My own voice, very fast, "I wonder if..." is common, imagined "um" or "ar" is not too rare (odd because unlike the rest they don't come out as the imagined sounds but, if I had to try describing it, rather more like what you hear when you yawn), sometimes in Japanese. I don't really notice a switch for when I speak/read Japanese - it's usually just that the English:Japanese ratio changes. If I'm in private I will talk to myself sometimes - I find that I think more clearly and more decisively when I properly externalise my thoughts, and speech is more convenient than writing or other methods, often.

edited 1st Mar '12 4:02:10 AM by ekuseruekuseru

eternalNoob Ded from yer mum Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Ded
#25: Mar 1st 2012 at 4:07:34 AM

Constanly swearing screaming, and shouting FOR THE LOVE OF SWEET MOTHER OF HELL

If you wanna PM me, send it to my mrsunshinesprinkles account; this one is blorked.

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