Speaking Tip: Conveying Emotion

By: Robert F. Abbott

Article Summary: By making a couple of subtle changes to your speed of delivery and your pitch, you can give your spoken words an emotional significance.

When I started my radio career many years ago, I began in a small city where the announcers read obituaries over the air during the noon hour.

It didn't take long before I had to read them, too, and was puzzled about handling them appropriately. Eventually, I came to understand how they should be read: slightly slower and at a slightly lower pitch than regular speech.

Not significantly slower, but slightly slower. And, not in a significantly lower pitch, but slightly lower. That combination allows us to convey a sense of loss and respect, without the risk of sounding maudlin. If you find yourself speaking at a funeral, memorial, or similar event it's a good tone to take.

On the other side of the coin, speak a little more quickly, and at a slightly higher pitch to convey excitement.

Again, it's a modest increase in speed and pitch, just enough to be noticeably different than your normal speaking style.

Practice these techniques before you use them in an actual speech or presentation, and if possible, get someone to give you feedback. You'll find their help especially useful if they give you hand signals (to speed up, lower your pitch, and so on) while you speak.

Next, go to the public speaking tips page, or visit our home page Communication Skills .

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Speaking Tip: Conveying Emotion , Copyright Robert F. Abbott 2009