Ventriloquism

/vɛnˈtrɪləˌkwɪzəm/ noun

Definition

The skill of speaking while making it sound like the voice is coming from somewhere else, like a puppet.

Etymology

From Latin 'ventriloquus': 'venter' (belly) + 'loqui' (to speak). Romans literally called it 'belly-speaking' because they thought the voice came from the performer's stomach; the false etymology led to the modern term.

Kelly Says

Ventriloquism is named on a total misconception—the voice doesn't come from the belly at all! But the wrong etymology stuck around for 2,000 years because the word perfectly described what audiences thought was happening, even though the actual technique involves jaw and throat control.

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