must be done gradually and by the right methods. One way
of finding the best pitch for you, if you know something
about music, is to sing down the scale to the lowest note
you can reach without straining. That's your normal key.
Start work from that normal key and move to higher and
lower tones, always keeping your voice relaxed, pleasant,
and expressive. Practice constantly with the use of a recorder
and listen to your recording. Save the first recording to
compare your pitch range with the current recording, say
after a couple of months of daily practice.
| Inflection is the change of pitch which the speaker uses between words, or between the different syllables of the same word. The proper use of inflection gives tone colour to speech or reading, and enables the speaker to convey his meaning with great precision. |
How torturous it is for listeners to put up with
monotonous speakers who drone on and on monotonously.
Monotony refers to that quality of the voice in which there
is only one pitch. This is probably the worst speech fault of
people who have mastered the mechanics of public speaking.
They are skilled speakers who have sufficient volume, who
pronounce words correctly and distinctly so that the words
are intelligible; but by constantly droning en the same note
they irritate or disgust their listeners and block any real
communication.
SPEED
Speed refers to how fast you talk. Just as it is important to
vary pitch, so also the rate of speed should be varied. 'How
fast you talk' involves three things:
(1) rate of speech;
(2) pauses, how often and how long;
(3) how long a syllable is prolonged.
Rate of Speech
When excited, one speaks more rapidly than when one is
calm. Generally, one should speak or read at a moderate
rate while narrating, explaining or teaching. A slow rate
should be used to express solemnity, awe, despair,
seriousness, or devotion. A rapid rate, which gives
brightness and intensity to communication, should be used
to express joy, animation, fear, terror, or humour.
Pauses
Just as we punctuate what we write with commas,
semicolons and periods, so also we punctuate our speech
with pauses. Pauses have three functions:
(a) they help overcome stage fright;
(b) they aid interpretation; and
(c) they are a fine form of emphasis.
Pauses help overcome stage fright because they go
against the natural impulse to be afraid and run. In that
moment of a pause, we reflect that there is no reason for
fear and hence get a better focus on what we are going to
say. As a means of interpretation, pauses indicate changes
of thought: thev do for the ear what the paragraph, chapter
ending, and punctuation marks do for the eye. Pauses
emphasise; they create an atmosphere of suspense just
before a key word or phrase is spoken; the longer the pause
the more forceful the emphasis on the meaning or feeling.
To Overcome Nervousness
Whenever you stand in front of an audience, it is
normal for beginners to feel nervous. Nervousness does
two things for you, it can make you, or it can break
you. Use it to your advantage just like an athlete does
before a race.
To cure stage fright, speak as often as you get the
opportunity to speak before an audience.
Practice thoroughly before you come to the stage.
Knowing you have something worth saying will give
you confidence.
Practice your speech several times loud - standing up.
Take several deep breaths just before you go to face
the audience.
Think of each member of the audience as a friend -
people waiting to cheer and applaud you.
Make sure that everybody hears you, but don't be high-
pitched.
Avoid displaying nervous ticks, such as, tensing your
fingers, rubbing your hands, playing with a pencil,
clearing your throat, etc. This not only advertises your
state of nervousness, but also distracts the attention
of the audience from what you are saying.
Ways to Relax Before Speaking
Take a drink of something lukewarm: if it is
hot it will burn you, if cold, it will tend to tighten
up your muscles.
Yawn, several times (in private); yawing is a
good relaxer.
Bend at the waist; let your arms hang down
loosely; let your chin fall on your chest. Dangle
your arms to be sure they are fully relaxed.
Then slowly rise to an erect position, keeping
the arms limp and only raise your head when
your body is straight.
Shake your hands; then let them fall loosely to
your side.
Sing softly or in a moderate tone. This is often
a help for general relaxation and is also a means
of opening the throat.
Art of Conversation
Making conversation is engaging in 'small talk.' While
some enjoy it, many have an aversion for it. It is a
valuable asset and there is nothing small about small talk.
Those who enjoy it know its value and have mastered the
skills to their advantage. And those who have lost the skill
and the will to converse find the entire exercise
uncomfortable, unnecessary and trivial.
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