The human voice can be seen as a mirror which reflects a speaker's attitudes and feelings. An extremely weak voice may indicate a weak or timid personality. When someone is seriously ill their voice shows that. If they are happy the person's voice normally corresponds. When they feel other emotions their voice will usually respond also.
A truly effective public speaker is too busy communicating their ideas, feelings and earnestly they don't think about his voice as a speaker. However, they can form good vocal habits in private practice that will help them when they are speaking in public.
The essentials of a good speaking voice required for effective speaking are;
1. Voice projection
Everyone in the back row should be able to easily hear the speaker. To achieve this, the mouth needs to open wide enough and the lips move so that the tones come out freely. Speak twice as loud as you normally would in personal conversation.
2. Vary in pitch and inflection
Your tones should vary in pitch and inflection to naturally reflect the thoughts and feelings you are expressing. This will give freedom from the monotony that the sameness of tone induces. By thoroughly feeling the ideas and by letting those feelings show a speaker puts variety into their tones.
3. A good average rate
A good average rate should be set at the rate that is comfortable for the speaker's temperament, the audience and the nature of the speech. Too slow and you will encourage the audience's attention to wander. Too fast and the audience can't keep up and they will not get the full meaning of the speech.
4. Vary rate
Although a speaker should have a good average rate of speaking, a good speaker will vary the rate of delivery when the ideas or information being discussed call for a change. But, do not vary the speed of delivery mechanically but naturally in keeping with the idea being expressed.
5. Emphasize Key Words
The key words in a sentence need more force than the other words. The emphasis involves increased vocal force as well as more spirit.
6. Good diction
The words should be spoken clearly, but not spoken too precisely or exacting because the words themselves become the focus and not the content of the speech. Nor is loose careless speech useful, it may lead the audience to the conclusion that you are lazy.
By recording a speech and listening carefully to it will reveal any monotonous speaking and any other vocal bad habits such as ums and ahs. A speaker can invite other listeners to feedback on their speech delivery, too. Then the speaker should get busy and practice putting more vocal color into their voice, being sure he speaks in a conversational tone.
Every day there are numerous opportunities to practice public speaking, because ordinary conversation is very much like public speaking. Why not make every conversation more vital and interesting by improving your speaking voice. The improvement in your speaking voice, will improve the effectiveness of your communication in conversation, meetings, etc, as well as your public speaking.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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