Why Does Our Own Voice Sound Different?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does our own voice sound different?

The Big Idea

Your own voice sounds different on a recording. When you talk, you hear yourself through the air and through the bones of your skull. A recording only catches one of those paths. That mix of air and bone is hard to copy.

You Speak

Step one: you speak. You talk normally, and sound waves leave your mouth. Your voice is now out in the air. Your own voice feels deeper to you than to others.

Air Path to Ears

Step two: the air path to your ears. Sound travels through the air around your head to your ears. Other people hear your voice this way. The skull carries low sounds better than air does.

Bone Path Through the Head

Step three: the bone path through your head. Vibrations also travel through the bones of your skull to your inner ear. Bones make your voice sound deeper and fuller to you. A microphone hears only the air path.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at the recording. The air path is what other people hear. The bone path is something only you hear. A recording misses the bone path, so the voice sounds different. Together, these paths explain the surprise.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! That is why a recording surprises you. To everyone else, your recorded voice sounds just like you. Most people feel surprised the first time they hear themselves. Your voice is special and one of a kind. Your voice is part of who you are.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, record yourself saying one sentence. Play it back and listen. Compare it to what you hear when you speak. How does it sound different?

Outro

You have a wonderful voice, through air, through bones, and out loud! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!