In French, we often hear the term Voix hors champ and also, particularly in France, the term Voix off.
Obviously, these terms are used to talk about the voice of someone we do not see on screen. Like the voice of the person we hear in TV ads, radio ads, documentaries, explainer videos on the Internet, etc.
In English, it is so much simpler: everyone says Voice Over.
But in French, it is always more complicated. Voix Off or Voix hors champ? Are they the same thing?
Well yes, they are the same thing.
In Quebec, “Voix hors champ” is the term advocated by the Office Québécois de la langue française, which specifies that the term “Voix Off” should not be used.
And in France, even though the term Voice off is extremely widespread, La Délégation générale à la langue française et aux langues de France “recommends”, in its terminology directory of September 22, 2000, using the term “voix hors-champ”.
So Voix off and Voix hors champ are the same thing, but using Voix hors champ is recommended.
VHC for those in the know.
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YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StudioYvesAmyot
Website of Yves Amyot’s recording studio. Narrator, off-screen voice, voice-over, narration.