ventriloquismlike

Ventriloquismlike is a term used in media studies and performance theory to describe a communication effect wherein a voice or character seems to originate from a source other than the visible performer or entity presenting it, mirroring the illusion at the heart of ventriloquism. The term, formed from ventriloquism and the suffix -like, denotes similarity rather than practice itself.

In practice, ventriloquismlike occurs across performances and media, including stage acts with off-stage speakers, radio plays using disembodied voices, film and television with unseen narrators or characters speaking from different locations, and digital media where avatars, AI, or bots speak as if independent from their creators. The effect is achieved through a combination of voice acting, timing, and production techniques such as spatial audio cues, lip-sync, perspective cues, and sound design that align a voice with a perceived source.

The concept is widely used in narrative construction to create mystery, tension, or layered point of view, and it also appears in interactive media and gaming, where non-player characters seem to address players directly despite the voice being generated elsewhere. Ethical considerations include transparency about the source of the voice in contexts where the illusion could mislead audiences or manipulate perception, such as advertising or political messaging. See also ventriloquism, off-screen voice, disembodied voice, voice acting, and audio illusion.