Ventriloquism is the illusion of making the voice appear to come from somewhere other than its source. It takes long and steady practice to develop the ability to imitate near and distant sounds. The sounds are produced in the usual method, but the lips are held as nearly motionless as possible. The tongue is drawn well back and only the tip is moved. A deep breath is taken in and exhaled very slowly. Sounds are modified, or changed, by the muscles of the throat and the palate. The ventriloquist often changes consonants to avoid moving the lips. For example, the letter p becomes a k, and b is quickly slurred into a g or k. Lack of facial expression by the performer helps to fool the audience. The performer also constantly directs the attention of the audience to the place from which the sound is supposed to come. Theatrical ventriloquists often use a dummy or a puppet with whom they pretend to carry on a conversation (see Puppet (Dummies) ).
Ventriloquism is an ancient art. The Greeks thought it was the work of demons. They believed the voice came from the abdominal region. The word ventriloquism comes from the Latin venter, meaning belly, and loqui, meaning to speak. During the 1700’s and 1800’s, ventriloquism emerged as a form of entertainment. Today, it is also recognized as an art.
