inaudible speech

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inaudible speech" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe speech that is muffled or too quiet to be heard, or when the speaker is not clear enough to be understood. For example, "The speaker's words were inaudible beneath the loud music."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Manifestations of dysarthria may include restricted movement of the lip, tongue, and jaw; slurred speech; slow speech; rapid mumbled speech; soft or inaudible speech; breathiness; hoarseness; and drooling and difficulty swallowing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Finally, after another session of virtually inaudible speeches, the parade was ready to go.

The New Yorker

There was a moment of excitement when Dr. King and other speakers assembled on the steps, but a succession of long, rhetorical, and, to a certain extent (when press helicopters buzzed too low or when the microphone went dead), inaudible speeches put a damper on that.

The New Yorker

WIMBLEDON, England — Rafael Nadal tapped on the microphone and asked, "What happened?" He was talking about a malfunction that made his speech inaudible to the Centre Court crowd, but he might have been referring to the defeat he had just been handed.

The New York Times

Consequently, the watermark is inaudible within the speech signal.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Despite the adverse publicity, Bottomley was returned by the electors of Hackney South at each of the two 1910 general elections; his tactics included recruiting men in boots tipped and heeled with iron, who marched outside his opponent's meetings and rendered the speeches inaudible.

Wikipedia

So there are Mayakovsky and Churchill saying the kind of things they would never have said, one feels, in real life - bursts of speech almost inaudible in the crackle of interference.

The Guardian - Arts

The man shouted words to locals who gathered in the street, though his speech was inaudible.

Vice

But despite two loud speakers, sound problems made all of those speeches pretty inaudible, so I decided to go and ask some of the glum mourners what they thought instead.

Vice

Soon he was seen scarcely able to talk or walk, his speech descending into inaudible mumbles, the once stimulating "Ali shuffle" becoming a harrowing shamble.

The Guardian - Sport

The tonal and noise masking threshold that give the maximum level of noise that is inaudible in the presence of speech is computed.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where "inaudible speech" occurs, provide context about the cause, such as distance, obstruction, or speaker's condition, to enhance understanding.

Common error

Avoid attributing "inaudible speech" solely to a speaker's intent (e.g., mumbling) when external factors (e.g., background noise, equipment malfunction) are the primary cause. Always consider the environment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inaudible speech" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "inaudible" modifies the noun "speech". This combination describes a state or quality of speech, indicating it cannot be heard. Ludwig confirms its usability, demonstrated through real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inaudible speech" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote speech that cannot be heard. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's important to provide context when using the phrase, specifying the reason for the lack of audibility. While alternatives like "muffled speech" or "unintelligible speech" exist, the choice depends on whether the issue is audibility or clarity. This phrase maintains a neutral register and is applicable across various domains, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. Be mindful of attributing inaudibility to the correct source, whether it's the speaker or external factors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unintelligible speech

Replaces 'inaudible' with 'unintelligible', focusing on the lack of comprehensibility rather than audibility.

unhearable speech

A more direct synonym implying the speech cannot be heard.

barely audible speech

Emphasizes the speech is at the limit of what can be heard.

muffled speech

Indicates that the speech is difficult to hear because it is obscured or indistinct.

indistinct speech

Highlights the lack of clarity in the speech sounds.

speech too quiet to hear

Rephrases the concept to explicitly state the reason for the speech being inaudible.

faint speech

Suggests the speech is very quiet and hard to hear.

imperceptible speech

Suggests the speech is so faint it's practically undetectable.

soft speech

Describes speech that lacks volume, making it difficult to perceive.

whispered speech

Implies the speech is deliberately quiet, near the threshold of hearing.

FAQs

How can I use "inaudible speech" in a sentence?

You can use "inaudible speech" to describe situations where words cannot be heard clearly, such as "The microphone malfunction resulted in "inaudible speech" from the presenter".

What's the difference between "unintelligible speech" and "inaudible speech"?

"Unintelligible speech" refers to speech that is impossible to understand, while "inaudible speech" refers to speech that cannot be heard. Speech can be audible but unintelligible, and vice versa.

What can I say instead of "inaudible speech"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "muffled speech", "faint speech", or "barely audible speech".

Is "inaudible speeches" grammatically correct?

While "inaudible" is an adjective that can modify the plural noun "speeches", the phrase "inaudible speech" (singular) is more common when referring to speech in general or a single instance of unclear communication. "Inaudible speeches" might be used to refer to multiple distinct speeches that were each inaudible.