The word "ventriloquist" is spelled quite uniquely, with multiple letters that aren't pronounced in the way they are typically spelled. It is pronounced "ven-TRIL-uh-kwist" and written in IPA phonetic transcription as /vɛnˈtrɪləkwɪst/. This takes into account the silent "o" after the "v," as well as the "qu" after the second "l," which creates a "kw" sound. Despite these spelling peculiarities, the word is still easy to recognize and understand when spoken. If anything, it adds to the charm and intrigue of the skill of ventriloquism.
A ventriloquist is a skilled performer who practices the art of ventriloquism, an entertainment technique in which a person manipulates their voice in a way that it appears to be coming from another source, typically a puppet or a dummy known as a ventriloquist's figure. This skillful individual is able to create the illusion of the figure's voice by using specialized vocal techniques that make them appear to speak without moving their lips or any detectable movements of the mouth.
The ventriloquist's figure is commonly fashioned to resemble a human or an animal and is often outfitted with movable features such as a mouth and eyes that can give it a lifelike appearance. This figure serves as a comedic or conversational partner for the ventriloquist, engaging in a dialogue or monologue that allows the performer to showcase their talent for impersonating different voices and characters.
Ventriloquism has a long history and has been performed across various cultures throughout the ages. The ventriloquist acts as a skilled illusionist, integrating their storytelling abilities and vocal manipulations to bring life and personality to the inanimate figure they control. The success of a ventriloquist hinges on their ability to seamlessly deceive the audience into believing the figure is an autonomous entity, giving rise to hilarious dialogues or thought-provoking performances that entertain and captivate audiences worldwide.
One who speaks in such a manner that his words appear as spoken by another near or distant.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word ventriloquist originates from two Latin words: venter meaning belly and loqui meaning to speak. Therefore, the literal meaning of ventriloquist is belly speaker.