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Voices & Accents

The Voice or Accent mechanic indicates that we might use part of the clue said in a specific certain accent or style. This mechanic is similar in many ways to the Homophone Mechanic and the two may be combined.

Common uses of this clue might be to say something with a Scottish accent, an American accent, a lisp, and so on.

Examples​

As Sean Connery says, unmarried people getting viral disease (8)

Answer: shingles (a viral disease)

In this case if Sean Connery was to say "unmarried people", he might say "singles". In a Scottish accent, this could be said as "shingles" - which gives the straight-part and solution shingles (a viral disease).

  • As Sean Connery says: suggests a voice mechanic, using a Scottish Accent.
  • unmarried people: the part of the clue we 'voice' in a Scottish Accent - singles (unmarried people) is voiced as shingles.
  • getting viral disease: "getting" suggest what follows is our answer, and the straight part is viral disease - or shingles.

From The Guardian Quick Cryptic No 36 by Picaroon

Cockneys live in these units? (4)

Answer: ohms (a unit of resistance in electronics)

In a Cockney (London) accent the 'h' at the beginning of a word is often dropped. Cockney"s live in "homes" which is voiced as "'omes'". This is a homophone of "ohms" - which is a unit of resistance in electronics.

  • Cockneys...: suggests a voice mechanic, using a Cockney Accent.
  • ...live in these: the part of the clue we 'voice' in a Cockney Accent - Cockney's live in homes which is voiced as 'omes.
  • units: the straight part of the clue - 'omes is a homophone of ohms which is the scientific unit of resistance - ohms.

From The Guardian Everyman crossword No 4,038

Practice Puzzles​

Accents​

Common accents or voices which might be used are:

  • Posh
  • American
  • Irish
  • Cockney - the leading "h" of a word is often dropped (e.g. "heat" could become "eat")
  • Lisp - "s" becomes "th" (e.g. "sank" could become "thank")

Indicators​

The following words or fragments might indicate that you have a 'Voice' clue:

  • As [Person/Nationality] says
  • Cockney (says/said/etc)
  • In [East London/Other Region]
  • For Yank (e.g. American Accent)