1、Unit 8Vocal Variety in PresentationThe Goals of Employing Vocal Variety in PresentationsIStandard VoiceIIVocal VariationIIISummary of ConceptsIVReflections and PracticeV2After completing this section,you will be able to understand the importance and significance of vocal variety;learn several of the
2、 most important elements to master your own public speaking voice;learn several methods to practice and improve your public speaking voice;employ several of these techniques in your own presentations.3Those who have gone through any form of higher education have sat through numerous lectures,confere
3、nces,talks,and other forms of presentations throughout their lives.It is then evident that certain speakers are simply better than others.These speakers could take the least interesting subjects and make them seem inspiring.Others,however,could speak about the most interesting subjects,and make them
4、 sound incredibly dry.4What differentiates these good speakers from the bad?This is what“Vocal Variety”refers to:through masterful control of not only what is said but also how it is said,speakers are able to control the reaction,emotions,attention and comprehension of their audience.5Read the follo
5、wing sentence aloud in a monotone:“Studies have shown that exercise not only leads to weight loss,but also improves an individuals attention,concentration,overall health and even prevent insomnia.”6Now,repeat the sentence in a slightly slower,more energetic pace,and according to the signaled emphase
6、s:“Studies have shown that EXERCISE not ONLY leads to weight loss(pause),but ALSO improves an individuals ATTENTION(pause),CONCENTRATION(pause),overall HEALTH(pause),and EVEN prevent INSOMNIA.”7Not only does the same statement now seem more interesting,but listeners will also be able to comprehend a
7、nd remember that statement more fully.Lecturer Deborah Grayson states that both the speaker and the audience“deserves to feel something while theyre in the room”,like interested,engaged,inspired,connected,convinced,etc.Speakers can use the power of their voice to seem warm and welcoming,excited or s
8、olemn,and most importantly memorable.Using vocal variety will also help the audience figure out what details in the presentation are most relevant,which are the crucial points that have to be noted.8Part IThe Goals of Employing Vocal Variety in Presentations91.The Goals of Employing Vocal Variety in
9、 PresentationsThere are several goals to keep in mind when deciding how to make a presentation sound more dynamic and interesting.They are:Portraying a sense of authority;Maintaining the audiences attention;Ensuring the audiences comprehension;Increasing the audiences retention of information.101.1
10、Portraying a sense of authorityOne of the most important parts of a presentation is to portray a sense of authority,credibility,reliability.Through not only his credentials but also voice and body language,the presenter can convey to the audience that he is the master of his subject,and any informat
11、ion that is to be presented comes from a credible source.Certain aspects of vocal variety,such as a deeper-sounding voice,a steady pace and pauses can be used to convince the audience that any information the speaker puts forth should be taken as fact.111.1 Portraying a sense of authorityAn aura of
12、excitement and sincerity about the chosen topic convinces the audience that the presented information is worth their time and attention.After all,if a presenter is not excited about his own topic,why should the listeners be?The goal is to put forth an impression of complete mastery of the subject,as
13、 if this same speech had been presented numerous times before,but not to make it sound overly rehearsed.121.2 Maintaining the audiences attentionAdults,not unlike children,are easily distracted.In a current society where social media is rife with updates every second,it can be hard to keep the audie
14、nces attention focused throughout even a short presentation of only 15-30 minutes.131.2 Maintaining the audiences attentionThrough vocal modulation during a presentation,this problem can be solved.For example,articulating clearly and maintaining a steady pace ensures the audiences comprehension.When
15、 listeners find a topic easy to follow,they are less likely to lose interest halfway through it.A speakers job is to convince the audience that they should pay attention and that they want to,by connecting with and engaging them in the presentation process.Sometimes,adding in little jokes or saying
16、certain things in a slightly less formal tone than the rest of your presentation can help keep your audience engaged.141.3 Ensuring the audiences comprehensionWhen presenting,the presenter expects the audience to understand and be able to fully absorb the information presented.Articulating properly
17、and maintaining a steady pace will allow the audience to understand more clearly what you are trying to convey.151.3 Ensuring the audiences comprehensionThe goal of a presenter is not to“force-feed”the audience substantial amounts of information.Instead,it is to ensure that the audience remembers th
18、e key points of the presentation.Any missed or misheard detail can be looked up.Additionally,any truly interested party will be able to email the presenter for additional information.As a presenter at a medical conference,this is even more evident.161.4 Increasing the audiences retention of informat
19、ionStudies on memory and retention have found that memories attached to some kind of emotion are more easily and readily remembered.This could be an important tool in a presenters toolbox.171.4 Increasing the audiences retention of informationWhen presenting,the tone of speech is as important as its
20、 content in bringing up some sort of emotion in the audience.For example,sounding solemn when discussing a patients terminal illness reminds the audience of the significance of a life,and therefore the significance of the chosen topic is stressed.Remind the audience that with the implementation or a
21、dvancement of your topic,they could be helping to save somebodys wife or child.Alternatively,a louder and faster tone can be employed to convey excitement when elaborating on a new advanced medical technique that has the potential to save numerous lives.18Part IIStandard Voice192.Standard VoiceTo un
22、derstand how to properly manipulate your voice to reach the above goals,the basics must first be observed.The following 4 important factors are to be noticed during any form of public presentation.Pace Volume/Power Articulation Pitch and timbre202.1 PacePace is usually defined as speed of physical m
23、ovement as in walking,running,etc.In this context,however,it refers to the speed of your speech.In a presentation,especially a complex presentation involving the use of many professional medical terms,pace is especially important to keep in mind.A good slow,steady speech is the best to use in the ma
24、jority of the presentations,as it will allow the audience to fully comprehend and digest the information that is put forth.This is most important to note for non-native speakers of English,as a thick accent can undermine the audience comprehension and interest.The less the audience understands a spe
25、ech,the less likely they are to pay attention to.Additionally,many in the audience are also likely to be non-native speakers and will find it even more difficult to follow a quick,garbled speech.212.1 PaceFurthermore,nerves often make someone speak too fast.The result is that the audience feels that
26、 they are spoken at rather than spoken to.This is a very important distinction.Individuals who feel as if they are spoken at will feel distanced from the topic at hand,disengaged and develop a sense that the topic being spoken about is in no way significant to them.A steady and slow speed will conve
27、y a sense of confidence and competence,and that the audience is a part of the learning process,rather than just a disengaged observer.A good tip to follow is to speak at a slightly slower speed than the norm.Practice this steady tone,and set a fixed tempo.222.2 Volume/PowerVolume refers to how quiet
28、ly or loudly you speak.Power is similar to volume,but with a slight difference.A“powerful”voice does not just mean a loud voice,but also steady,deep,and resonates well in front of the audience.In general,most people can use two voices to sing:the“head”voice,and the“belly”voice.The“head”voice sounds
29、thin and wispy,and can often sound nasally.There is no“power”to it.The“belly”voice,however,comes from the diaphragm,which is located right below the lungs.It is deeper,more powerful and steadier than the“head”voice.232.2 Volume/PowerThe first step to find your“belly”voice is to learn how to breathe
30、properly.To do this,breathe in slowly and deeply,while pushing your stomach out and keeping the chest still.This is called“diaphragmatic breathing”or “deep breathing”.Most people naturally breathe with the“chest breathing”or“shallow breathing”method.Diaphragmatic breathing allows more air to enter t
31、he lungs than chest breathing.Furthermore,powerful abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles are used during exhalation,ensuring a stronger,steadier voice.Practice this diaphragmatic breathing method several times in front of a mirror,until it becomes almost second nature.242.2 Volume/PowerAfter you have
32、understood the concept of diaphragmatic breathing,you can begin to find your“belly”voice.Breathe in deeply with your diaphragm.Then,open your mouth and say“Aaaaah”,all the while contracting your abdominal muscles slowly as you breathe out.This may take several tries to get right,so be patient.252.2
33、Volume/PowerCompare this“belly”voice to your speaking tone when using your“head”voice.Even in a casual setting,the difference is significant.During a presentation,when communication is mostly a one-way street,this volume/power factor will be essential.262.3 ArticulationThe Oxford Dictionary defines“
34、articulation”as:The formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech;The action of putting into words an idea or feeling.272.3 ArticulationThis section mainly explores its first definition,and how it relates to the second definition;that is to say,how proper pronunciation,enunciation and emphasis pl
35、acement assist in conveying meaning.282.3 ArticulationMany speakers and audience members at international medical conferences are not themselves native speakers of the English language.Hence,proper pronunciation is doubly important.First it is of benefit to the speaker to have a proper pronunciation
36、,as it makes him or her sound more credible and knowledgeable.Second is its benefit to the audience,who may not otherwise be able to understand much of what is said.292.3 ArticulationKeep in mind here that accent and proper pronunciation do not necessarily mean the same thing.A perfect“American”or“B
37、ritish”accent is not required.Many,if not most of the audience members,will undoubtedly not have perfect“native”accent themselves.Thus,the important things to note are proper enunciation,pronunciation,and vocal clarity.If the proper pronunciation of a word or phrase is unclear,look it up.Strive to s
38、peak in a good,clear voice at normal volume.Do not shout,but do not mumble.Opening the mouth wider,exaggerating the mouth and cheek muscle movement more than during normal everyday speech is a good rule to follow.Make sure each vowel is emphasized clearly and cannot be mistaken for another,and attem
39、pt to differentiate between similar vowels sounds,such as“soak”and“sock”.302.3 ArticulationVowels are not the only easily mispronounced parts of speech.Many non-native speakers also have trouble with certain consonants.For example,many non-native speakers have difficulty in pronouncing the consonant
40、“TH”.Another easily mispronounced consonant is“N”which many individuals pronounce it as something similar to“L”.312.3 ArticulationTo overcome these difficulties,non-native speakers should practice pronouncing each sound individually.An example of these practices is:“Mah May Meh Me Mee Mai Moh Mow Mo
41、an Mu Moo”,repeated for each English language consonant.This might seem a tedious task,but will have significant results.322.4 Pitch and timbrePitch refers to a quality of a note.For example,in“do re mi fa so la ti”,“do”represents a low pitch,and“ti”represents the highest.Timbre represents a differe
42、nt quality of voice.This represents the way an individuals voice“feels”,such as rich,smooth,warm,grating,etc.332.4 Pitch and timbreGenerally,a lower and deeper voice conveys a sense of masculinity,depth,authority and power,and portrays an individual who is steadfast and reliable.Some people already
43、have a low and deep voice,and for some it is more difficult to obtain.342.4 Pitch and timbreWhen some people are tired,their voices tend to go deeper,lower.This is because their diaphragms and chest area are relaxed,causing the vocal cords to also relax.Remember,the vocal cords are partially compose
44、d of muscle,and muscle that can be trained.352.4 Pitch and timbreOne good way to practice is to put one hand right below your sternum(your chest bone),which is where your diaphragm is located,and hum.Go down the musical scale.When you can go no lower,take a few deep breaths and try to relax and mass
45、age your diaphragm and throat.Then,start the exercise over again.After a few repeats,you will notice that you are able to reach one or two notes lower than you originally could.362.4 Pitch and timbreAdditionally,try to keep your head high during a presentation.This will not only allow you to look at
46、 your audience,but with your head high,your neck and throat will be stretched out,and the quality of your voice will be much more resonant.When you glance down to read notes,your neck and throat bend and can get contorted.Your voice tends to be low,or poor in quality,and low in volume.37Part IIIVoca
47、l Variation383.1 Conveying a feelingOne marker of a good presenter is their ability to make the audience“feel”something about his or her presentation.They could feel angry,excited,interested,sad,warm,ect.More often than not,this depends on how the presenter speaks rather than what is said.393.1 Conv
48、eying a feelingTo convey a sense of excitement,for example,one can increase the power,volume,pitch,and pace of oration.One or a few of these can be used,not necessarily all four at once.Pay close attention however,so as not to overdo it.A too loud,too high-pitched and speedy segment of your speech m
49、ay annoy the audience instead,sounding as if they are being shouted/yelled at.A skilled transition from slow and steady to a quick upbeat tone of voice is an effective way to convey excitement and passion about a certain topic,thus increasing audience interest.This method can also be employed when t
50、alking about one of the more exciting points of your presentation,the beginning of a topic,or when talking about a good example in narrative form.403.1 Conveying a feelingTo convey a sense of gravity and importance,to indicate that this section is the one really worth listening to,and the most relev
