Public Speaking:

V OICE

OBJECTIVES

• Identify the 4 steps in the process of voice production

• Explain ways to improve articulation• Explain how volume, intensity, emphasis, rate,

pause, framing, pitch, and inflection improve vocal effectiveness

• Understand questions to think about in order to improve articulation

4 Steps of Voice Production

• Respiration – breathing• Vibration – expelling air over your vocal

chords• Resonation – amplifying sound• Articulation – changing sound to intelligible

speech

Improve Articulaton

• Avoid weak qualities: breathy, raspy, shrill, nasal, husky

• Speak with sufficient air pressure from the diaphragm

• Speak with a relaxed throat and vocal chords to avoid shrillness

• Speak using all resonators without overusing or underusing the nose and sinuses

Vocal Effectiveness

• Volume – speaking loudly or softly• Intensity – showing emotion; expelling more air from

you diaphragm• Emphasis – stressing certain words• Rate – speaking quickly or slowly• Pause – placing silences between words, phrases• Framing – placing a pause before and after a word or

phrase• Pitch – speaking high or low• Inflection – varying your pitch

Emphasis exercise

• “I don’t want to go.”– Speaker’s own will– Repeating a strong feeling– Speaker will go, but doesn’t want to– Speaker wants to do something else

“Hot Air Balloon” Exercise

• Read handout and practice• Read it aloud to a partner• Volunteer(s) to read to class?