Voice and paralanguage: the impact of tone, rhythm and volume.

The Voice as a Reflection of Our Emotions and Attitudes

Within non-verbal communication, the voice is a tool of fundamental importance that we often underestimate.

The science that studies all the elements surrounding words, that is, how we say what we say, is known as paralanguage.

When we speak, our message is not only contained in the vocabulary we choose, but in the way we project it.

Asking ourselves "how do I sound to others?" is the first step in mastering our paraverbal language and becoming better communicators.

A properly employed voice helps us hold the audience's attention and emphasize the key points of our speech; misused, it can completely sabotage our message, no matter how brilliant the content.

Pace and Volume: Setting the Compass of Confidence

The pace or speed at which we speak conveys crucial information about our internal state.

An excessively fast pace suggests nervousness or a rush to finish, as if we are uncomfortable in the situation.

Conversely, too slow a pace can bore the audience and project an image of insecurity, as if we are hesitating over every word we are about to say.

The goal is to find a modulated, lively pace that demonstrates control and keeps the audience engaged. Similarly, the volume of our voice must be appropriate.

An excessively high volume can be perceived as arrogance or a desire for prominence and dominance.

A volume that is too low conveys shyness, fear or lack of self-confidence.

An appropriate volume, on the other hand, projects security and education, which increases our credibility and the audience's willingness to listen to us.

Intonation and Vocalization: Bringing Words to Life and Clarity

Intonation is a true reflection of our emotions. A monotonous speech, with no variation in tone, is a sure recipe for boredom and conveys a profound lack of interest.

To avoid this, it is essential to modulate the tone of voice, with rises and falls that denote enthusiasm and confidence, and help to emphasize the importance of certain ideas. In addition, it is important to have good vocalization and diction.

If we do not articulate correctly and "eat" parts of the words, we run the risk of not being understood and of projecting a careless or uneducated image. We must strive to pronounce words clearly and completely.

The Power of Silence: The Strategic Use of Pauses

Often the most overlooked and yet one of the most powerful elements of paralanguage are pauses and silences. Knowing how to play with them is a sign of great communicative mastery.

A pause just before a key word or idea creates expectation and underlines it in the audience's mind.

Pauses also allow our audience a moment to reflect, and us a moment to breathe and order our thoughts, conveying an image of security, control and conviction.

It is essential to avoid "full pauses" or crutches (such as "ehh", "okay", "well..."), as these denote doubt, hesitation and insecurity, and greatly distract the audience from the main message.

Summary

Within nonverbal communication, the voice is a fundamentally important tool that we often underestimate. The science that studies how we say what we say is known as paralanguage.

The rhythm or speed at which we speak conveys crucial information about our internal state. An excessively fast pace suggests nervousness, while one that is too slow can be boring and project an image of insecurity.

Intonation is a true reflection of our emotions. A monotonous speech is a sure recipe for boredom and conveys a profound lack of interest, so it is essential to modulate the tone.