Nasal voice

A nasal voice is a type of speaking voice characterized by speech with a "nasal" quality to it. It can also occur naturally because of genetic variation. In vocal context, the opposite of nasal is adenoidal or denasal.

Nasal speech can be divided into hypo-nasal or hyper-nasal.

Hypo-nasal speech

 * Hypo-nasal speech is when there is a lack of appropriate nasal airflow during speech resulting in speech much as if someone has a bad cold.

Causes of hypo-nasal speech include anything that causes nasal obstruction including, but not limited to:
 * adenoid hypertrophy
 * turbinate hypertrophy
 * allergies
 * sinus infections
 * viral upper respiratory infection
 * deviated septum

Hyper-nasal speech
Hyper-nasal speech is inappropriate increased airflow through the nose during speech, especially with plosives and fricatives (syllables that begin with a consonant).

Examples of hyper-nasal speech include cleft palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency.

People described as having nasal voices

 * Fran Drescher
 * Ray Romano
 * Neil Young
 * Bob Dylan
 * John Lennon
 * Billy Corgan
 * The character Janice on the popular sitcom Friends
 * Katie Carlile
 * The character Clyde Donovan and Kyle Schwartz in the animated show South Park