On Voice and Character: The Hidden Depth of Language
World-Building And More Via Culture
Let’s talk about voice again, but let’s take it a step further.
By now, we know that voice is how we filter the world through a character’s eyes. But here’s the advanced version:
Authentic voice is more than personality. It’s also shaped by culture.
People don’t talk in a vacuum. We speak the way we do because of where we come from, what we value, what we fear, what we’ve learned to say and, just as importantly, not to say.
If your world-building is rich, that voice gets really interesting.
Voice Isn’t Just a Quirk
When we say “character voice,” we often think of slang, snark, rhythm, tone.
And sure, that’s part of it. But true voice also comes from cultural pressure.
Think of a soldier from a society where emotion is weakness. They’ll play it rough and joke around, even when it’s hard. If they need to talk about emotions, they’ll leave it half-said or use indirect metaphors. Their soul-bearing conversations would sound anything but.
But the same would reflect in their inner dialog, the way they perceive and think. They will notice facts over emotions, solid ideas over softer abstractions.
A priest from a world where dreams are sacred would have a different voice. More fluent, symbolic, full of borrowed scripture, rich with parables and evocative imagery. When they wish to say important things, they might relate them as dreams or visions.
And again, this will reflect in all their narrative, not just dialog.
Voice becomes a reflection of:
What they’re taught to value
What they’re punished for saying
What they believe is true
This adds a layer that many stories miss.
Let’s See It in Action
Say your story takes place in a frostbitten mountain culture where silence is sacred, because noise attracts the “sky gods” who bring storms, and obedience to the Chief saves lives.
A character raised in that world might:
Speak rarely, and only when sure
Use short, spare language
Rely heavily on “what is known”
Refrain from conveying any “useless” information
Perhaps be unfamiliar with the word “no” or the concept of refusal
Now, imagine this character narrating a scene. Even in their inner voice, they’ll be careful, restrained. They’ll observe more than they judge. They’ll default to quiet.
You’ve just made the voice world-specific. And it feels real.
Why This Works
✅ Makes characters feel deeply rooted in their world
✅ Avoids modern voice leakage into fantasy/sci-fi settings
✅ Gives you a subtle way to deepen culture without exposition
✅ Creates natural contrast between characters from different groups
And it’s not hard. You’re just asking: How would someone from this place talk, think, and filter reality?
A Prompt to Try
Pick a POV character. Now ask:
What cultural rules shaped the way they speak and think?
What topics are taboo?
What values are baked into their metaphors or jokes or silences?
Then write a short paragraph from their POV, making sure every word is filtered through that cultural lens.
That’s when the voice becomes more than style. It becomes story.
If this sparked something for your current world or character, hit the ❤️ and share it with a writer who obsesses over voice, too.
Because sometimes the most powerful world-building is hidden in the way someone says “hello.”
Until next week,
Tal Valante Kilim