Nasal voice
A nasal voice is a type of speaking voice characterized by speech with a "nasal" quality to it. It can also occur naturally because of genetic variation. In vocal context, the opposite of nasal is adenoidal or denasal.
Nasal speech can be divided into hypo-nasal or hyper-nasal.
Hypo-nasal speech
- Hypo-nasal speech is when there is a lack of appropriate nasal airflow during speech resulting in speech much as if someone has a bad cold.
Causes of hypo-nasal speech include anything that causes nasal obstruction including, but not limited to:
- adenoid hypertrophy
- turbinate hypertrophy
- allergies
- sinus infections
- viral upper respiratory infection
- deviated septum
Hyper-nasal speech
Hyper-nasal speech is inappropriate increased airflow through the nose during speech, especially with plosives and fricatives (syllables that begin with a consonant).
Examples of hyper-nasal speech include cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency.
People described as having nasal voices
- Fran Drescher
- Ray Romano
- Neil Young
- Bob Dylan
- John Lennon
- Billy Corgan
- The character Janice on the popular sitcom Friends
- Katie Carlile
- The character Clyde Donovan and Kyle Schwartz in the animated show South Park