How to say it
Our body is a very useful toolbox that we can use to amplify our speaking. Starting with the vocal register, which influences how people perceive the other person due to the fact through which we speak. For example, through the belly or the larynx. The timbre is how the voice feels. In addition, prosody, tempo, pitch and volume have a huge impact on how the voice is perceived. -> Tweet And so that we can also use the full potential of the voice, we need to warm it up —> see video Tweet
The power of voice: register
Now that we have warmed up our voice and it is ready to go, the question is how can we influence these six basic building blocks of the voice with hacks? Basically, we associate a deep voice with authority and power...so how can we achieve this, as not all of us are born with a naturally deep voice. It makes a very big difference how we speak, through the larynx or through the chest/belly. This can be controlled through special breathing exercises. In addition, one can try to make the voice sound deeper consciously, but this can be very straining for the vocal chords. The third option is professional voice coaching. The last resort should be surgery, as this is very cost-intensive and risky.
The power of voice: timbre
In addition to the vocal register, the timbre of our voice is also important. This is strongly influenced by the voice register explained above. If you consciously decide to use the head voice, this often leads to bright tones that can sound pressed and uncertain. However, if one consciously decides to use the chest register, the timbre of the voice often seems full, resonant, softer and more velvety. By consciously deciding which voice (head or chest) we speak with, we can control the timbre.
The power of voice: prosody
Another component of the six building blocks is prosody. Try reading the example below with the letters in BOLD with extra prosody. You will notice that the emphasis on the bold letters creates a high degree of rhythm. Exercises like this are recommended before important speeches, events or simply when you want to be persuasive.
The power of voice: pitch
Here you can hear an example of pitch in the following short video (starting at 6:30 min.). Which pitch do you prefer? Most likely the first, as has been proven in many studies. The meaning of the statements, although both sentences have exactly the same content, differ simply because of the pitch. The former can be interpreted as a simple question about the key, the latter already implies a certain reproach. This and all the other five building blocks of the voice illustrate its great influence. It is therefore very important to use your voice consciously and purposefully in order to get the most out of it.