side.â
Women who tend to speak with more head voice will have a slightly higher pitch. High notes are often associated with shrillness or stridency. The stress of nervous anxiety can compound the problem by causing the voice to rise or break into a falsetto. Volume can also raise pitch. If you speak loudly in order to be heard above the noise of a crowd or to fill a vacuum in a large room, you may sound nervous or overly excited. A higher-pitched sound can also convey energy and enthusiasm, however. Political pundit Mary Matalin's voice is unusual with its sharp, nasal quality. Matalin knows how to control her sound and uses it to break through cacophony on cable talk shows.
The ideal voice mixes high and low tones. Variety in pitch and inflection will keep listeners engaged. A voice that lacks any change in pitch is a monotone. A dull, flat sound is easy to tune out, particularly after a heavymeal or during a long meeting. Make your voice come alive by using inflection, raising and lowering pitch purposefully. The most captivating voices utilize a full range of notes on the musical scale.
Step 2: Pick Up the Pace
The ideal speaking pace is a conversational rate. This rate is pleasing to the listeners, and it provides the speaker with the time to think and breathe properly. A moderate rate of speech is approximately 140 to 170 words per minute. The first two paragraphs of this section on pace contain 152 words. Read the two paragraphs out loud and time yourself with a stopwatch. Stop reading when you reach one minute. (If you finish the second paragraph before time is up, start over with the first paragraph again.) Then go back and count the number of words you used during the minute. Does your voice fall within the conversational rate range?
If you use more than 170 words in a minute, you need to slow your overall pace. For fast talkers, this requires serious concentration and practice, plus the use of pauses. If you are below 130 words, you need to quicken your overall pace. Your normal rate is too slow and will sound like it is dragging.
(Did you time yourself reading the last two paragraphs out loud? If not, do so now so you can get a sense of your rate of speech.)
Within the range of conversational speech, your speaking style will be much more dynamic if your speed changes from time to time. Varying the speed prevents you from falling into a sluggish or predictable tempo. A change of pace can also signal to the audience that a change of mood or a transition in subject is taking place. Slowing the pace makes what you are talking about sound more important. A slower rate gives more weight or puts more emphasis on the meaning of the words. The audience will feel as if they should pay closer attention to what is being said. Conversely, picking up the pace will sound more energetic. Changing the pace literally sounds like you are changing gears.
Step 3: Purposeful Pauses
The pause is the most underused of the vibrant voice techniques. When presenters do pause, they generally do so too seldom and too briefly. The pause is extremely helpful to you, and it is necessary for the audience. There are three reasons to pause.
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Pause to dramatically highlight key words and phrases. Set up important lines such as âI have a dream.â The pause serves as a verbal signal to the audience to pay attention because what is coming next is worth listening to.
Pauses are opportunities to breathe. Getting oxygen to the brain helps you relax and is vital to your ability to control your vocal quality. While you take a breath, you can think about what you are going to say next so the words don't just rumble, tumble out of your mouth.
Finally, pauses make excellent transitions from main idea to main idea. The pause signals that you are moving on to another topic.
Â
The audience uses the pause to take in what is being said. The silence gives the listeners a moment to do more than just hear the words. During a two-to
Women who tend to speak with more head voice will have a slightly higher pitch. High notes are often associated with shrillness or stridency. The stress of nervous anxiety can compound the problem by causing the voice to rise or break into a falsetto. Volume can also raise pitch. If you speak loudly in order to be heard above the noise of a crowd or to fill a vacuum in a large room, you may sound nervous or overly excited. A higher-pitched sound can also convey energy and enthusiasm, however. Political pundit Mary Matalin's voice is unusual with its sharp, nasal quality. Matalin knows how to control her sound and uses it to break through cacophony on cable talk shows.
The ideal voice mixes high and low tones. Variety in pitch and inflection will keep listeners engaged. A voice that lacks any change in pitch is a monotone. A dull, flat sound is easy to tune out, particularly after a heavymeal or during a long meeting. Make your voice come alive by using inflection, raising and lowering pitch purposefully. The most captivating voices utilize a full range of notes on the musical scale.
Step 2: Pick Up the Pace
The ideal speaking pace is a conversational rate. This rate is pleasing to the listeners, and it provides the speaker with the time to think and breathe properly. A moderate rate of speech is approximately 140 to 170 words per minute. The first two paragraphs of this section on pace contain 152 words. Read the two paragraphs out loud and time yourself with a stopwatch. Stop reading when you reach one minute. (If you finish the second paragraph before time is up, start over with the first paragraph again.) Then go back and count the number of words you used during the minute. Does your voice fall within the conversational rate range?
If you use more than 170 words in a minute, you need to slow your overall pace. For fast talkers, this requires serious concentration and practice, plus the use of pauses. If you are below 130 words, you need to quicken your overall pace. Your normal rate is too slow and will sound like it is dragging.
(Did you time yourself reading the last two paragraphs out loud? If not, do so now so you can get a sense of your rate of speech.)
Within the range of conversational speech, your speaking style will be much more dynamic if your speed changes from time to time. Varying the speed prevents you from falling into a sluggish or predictable tempo. A change of pace can also signal to the audience that a change of mood or a transition in subject is taking place. Slowing the pace makes what you are talking about sound more important. A slower rate gives more weight or puts more emphasis on the meaning of the words. The audience will feel as if they should pay closer attention to what is being said. Conversely, picking up the pace will sound more energetic. Changing the pace literally sounds like you are changing gears.
Step 3: Purposeful Pauses
The pause is the most underused of the vibrant voice techniques. When presenters do pause, they generally do so too seldom and too briefly. The pause is extremely helpful to you, and it is necessary for the audience. There are three reasons to pause.
Â
Pause to dramatically highlight key words and phrases. Set up important lines such as âI have a dream.â The pause serves as a verbal signal to the audience to pay attention because what is coming next is worth listening to.
Pauses are opportunities to breathe. Getting oxygen to the brain helps you relax and is vital to your ability to control your vocal quality. While you take a breath, you can think about what you are going to say next so the words don't just rumble, tumble out of your mouth.
Finally, pauses make excellent transitions from main idea to main idea. The pause signals that you are moving on to another topic.
Â
The audience uses the pause to take in what is being said. The silence gives the listeners a moment to do more than just hear the words. During a two-to
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