Whispering
rubielyn_tenidor
August 12, 2009 at 07:41 AM posted in General DiscussionJust wondering how Mandarin speakers produce the tones when they are whispering. It seems impossible to me.
changye
August 12, 2009 at 08:16 AM
Hi desluo929
I don't think tones are possible without using the voicebox.
Really? Did you try it yourself? I don't know whether I use a voicebox or not when whispering, but it seems to me that I can pronounce tones when whispering in Chinese.
P/S. Looks like my poor joke didn't work......hehe.
rubielyn_tenidor
August 12, 2009 at 08:04 AM
changye
When whispering properly, one doesn't use the voicebox at all. I don't think tones are possible without using the voicebox. Are you saying Chinese people never switch off their voicebox and whisper properly?
helenshen_counselor
August 12, 2009 at 09:25 AMHey changye, lol! I admit that, even some of my friends speak loud when they are whispering, eg, they sometimes yell out "I'm not telling......".
Hi desluo, try again, and keep the voice as low as possible, no vocal cords vibration...that's whispering! But, to some extent, you're right! It's difficult to tell the tone when someone is whispering. (There sure is a context that we'll understand the whisper)