"Being aware" is a common phrase understood by most native english speakers as a synonym of "conscious". If you are asleep, you are not aware of much. If you get hit by a car as you cross the road it's probably because you weren't aware of it. You can do some actions, like driving, either consciously or unconsciously.

I didn't say that all "people" have inner voices (by which I meant inner life). But by that definition, it's a requirement to be conscious.