Nasally

Characterized by a sound produced through the nose, often described as having a pinched or muffled quality. This vocal characteristic arises when airflow is diverted into the nasal cavity, impacting the resonance of the sound. The degree of nasalization can vary; a slight nasal quality might be subtle, while a strong one can be quite noticeable. The term can describe a person's voice, a musical instrument's tone, or even the sound of certain environments, implying a specific sound perception relating to or resembling the nose. Nasality can also convey a sense of a particular accent or speech pattern.

Nasally meaning with examples

• The actor, struggling with a cold, delivered his lines in a nasally voice, making it difficult to understand the nuances of the dialogue. His performance was noticeably affected by his congested nasal passages, impacting his vocal delivery. The audience, though sympathetic, found it challenging to concentrate on the plot.
• Children sometimes adopt a nasally tone when they are trying to sound cute or endearing. Her exaggerated speech came off as a tactic to get what she wants. Her attempt to sound younger, however, backfired. The little girl's attempt at flattery was completely ruined by her high-pitched nasal intonation.
• The old radio recording, with its crackling static, had a strangely nasally quality to the announcer's voice, suggesting the early days of broadcasting technology. The technology of the time created an undesirable echoing effect. Despite the flaws, the broadcast brought a wave of nostalgia, and was easy to distinguish from todays broadcast.
• The musician tuned the saxophone to eliminate a slight nasally overtone that disrupted the otherwise pleasant melody. By adjusting the mouthpiece and reeds, they reduced the nasal resonance. The instrument, once imperfect, now produced a pure, clean sound.
• The regional dialect gave the speaker's accent a charmingly nasally touch, making it easily identifiable to anyone familiar with their area's culture. Their unique way of speaking showcased their cultural background. The subtle shift in pronunciation added character to their speech, indicating their origin, the city of New Orleans.