Mastering Vocal Inflection

Changing the pitch, tone, and speed of your words can change the entire dynamic of a sentence, and help with mastering vocal inflection. Say this very simple example out loud: “Tonight’s dinner is PEAS and … carrots.” Now say it without the capital letters and the pause: “Tonight’s dinner is peas and carrots.” True, peas and carrots constitute a pretty lame dinner but at least in the first example I’m excited for the PEAS and in a bit of suspense about the … carrots.

Certainly, more exciting sentences will deliver even more exciting results. When I speak to audiences about my journey with melanoma, I reenact the conversation I had with my doctor, when he first told me the cancer had spread and then diagnosed me with stage 3 melanoma. I use pauses, I change the volume of my voice and the speed of the sentences. I impersonate his deliberate delivery juxtaposed with my more frenetic reaction. 

Your Voice Is Everything:

As a public speaker, or on camera performer, you definitely don’t want to be monotone. A monotone delivery will take even the most impactful content and make it boring, and if the content isn’t already supremely impactful, a monotone delivery will destroy any hope of that content resonating. What if Martin Luther King Jr. had no vocal variety in his “I have a dream” speech? Or, if JFK had said, “Ask not what your country can do for you … ask what you can do for your country,” with all the enthusiasm of a telemarketer. Those are two of the most compelling speeches in the history of our country, not only because of content, but because of delivery.

If you want a pop culture reference, think about Mel Gibson as William Wallace in Braveheart. When he addresses his fellow Scotsmen on the battlefield for the first time, that is a very powerful example of vocal inflection. No two sentences are delivered with the same emphasis. Some are more impactful than others, by design. Sometimes he shouts and sometimes his voice is barely above a whisper, but in both cases, you feel the desperation and inspiration in his message. That scene will get you fired up, no matter how many times you watch it.

Understand The Audience:

Now, if you’re talking about fourth quarter earnings to a room full of coworkers, you probably shouldn’t go all William Wallace on them. Maybe leave your horse at home. But you can certainly paint a picture with your words and how you deliver them. Emphasize the big points and the big victories and build suspense leading up to them by changing your tone and pacing. 

Comedians do a great job with vocal inflection. The good ones are master storytellers, and they know how to build suspense toward their punchlines. They take their time and bring you with them on their journey, hitting the important moments (or beats) and drawing you deeper into the story as they do so. 

Practice Your Vocal Inflection:

You must practice this; it doesn’t come naturally. First, understand that not every sentence needs a ton of inflection. Some sentences are straightforward and can be delivered without too much emphasis. For sentences that do require more inflection, try stressing certain words and see how that changes the entire complexion of that sentence.

By changing your volume and speed and by emphasizing certain words, you can turn a question into a statement and a secret into a bold proclamation. It may take a while to feel comfortable with vocal inflection, but when you get the hang of it, your ability as a storyteller will soar.

Contact Dave for public speaking coaching in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and throughout the United States.