Tone and intention

Psychology of low (authority) and high (insecurity) tones

Pitch, defined by the frequency of vibration of the vocal cords, is one of the most influential elements in the subconscious perception that the audience forms about the speaker.

Psychologically, we associate low tones with qualities of leadership, maturity, serenity and authority.

A voice settled in the low register tends to generate confidence and credibility, projecting an image of someone who is in control of the situation.

Conversely, overly high-pitched tones are often linked to immaturity, dependence or nervousness.

When a person enters a state of anxiety or fear, the laryngeal muscles tighten, causing the pitch to rise involuntarily, conveying insecurity to the audience.

It is not a matter of faking a voice that one does not have, but of working on relaxation so that the voice descends to its natural lower and more resonant tone, preventing stress from "thinning" it and detracting from its argumentative weight.

Tonal variation to avoid monotony

The greatest enemy of attention is monotony. A speech delivered in a single musical note, without variations of ascent or descent, acts as a sedative for the listener's brain, causing disconnection and boredom, regardless of how interesting the content is. This is called being "monochord".

To maintain interest, the voice must behave like a melody, with intonation curves that rise and fall.

These variations are called nuances or inflections. For example, when asking a question, the pitch usually rises at the end; when stating a strong sentence, the pitch drops to mark a definitive close.

If the speaker wishes to convey enthusiasm, the tone and speed may be slightly raised; if he wishes to convey solemnity or reflection, the tone should be lowered and become more leisurely.

This "voice painting" makes it possible to emphasize key ideas and emotionally guide the audience through the message, preventing the speech from becoming a flat, lifeless line.

Summary

Low tones are associated with leadership, authority and serenity. In contrast, high-pitched tones are often linked to insecurity or nervousness when the laryngeal muscles are very tense.

Monotony is the great enemy of audience attention. The voice should behave like a varied melody to emotionally guide the audience through the main message.

Performing tonal inflections allows you to underline key ideas effectively. Raising the pitch when questioning or lowering it when stating definitive conclusions prevents the speech from being a flat, lifeless line.