Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice-Over Voice
1,002 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★ - 4 ratingsYear THREE of short daily episodes to improve the quality of your speaking voice.
Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on breathing and reading, inflection and projection, the roles played by better scripting and better sitting, mic techniques and voice care tips... with exercises and anecdotes from a career spent in TV and radio studios. If you're wondering about how to start a podcast, or have had one for a while - download every episode!
And as themes develop over the weeks (that is, they are not random topics day-by-day), this is a free, course to help you GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VOICE OVER VOICE.
Look out for more details of the book during 2024.
Contacts: https://linktr.ee/Peter_Stewart
Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021, 2022, 2023 Peter Stewart
Peter has been around voice and audio all his working life and has trained hundreds of broadcasters in all styles of radio from pop music stations such as Capital FM and BBC Radio 1, the classical music station BBC Radio 3 and regional BBC stations. He’s trained news presenters on regional TV, the BBC News Channel and on flagship programmes such as the BBC’s Panorama.
He has written a number of books on audio and video presentation and production (see contacts clink above) and presented hundreds of radio shows (you may have heard him on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, Virgin Radio or Kiss, as well as BBC regional radio) with various formats. He has read tens of thousands of news bulletins and hosted 3,000+ podcast episodes.
The podcast title refers to those who may wish to change their speaking voice in some way. It is not a suggestion that anyone should, or be pressured into needing to. We love accents and dialects, and are well aware that how we speak changes over time. The key is: is your voice successfully communicating your message, so it is being understood (and potentially being acted upon) by your target audience?
This podcast is London-based and examples are spoken in the RP (Received Pronunciation) / standard-English / BBC English pronunciation, although invariably applicable to other languages, accents and dialects.
The 'Peter Stewart' show is perhaps of great interest to those in broadcast voice overs, the broadcast voice, how to start a voice podcast, broadcasting voice training, your speaking voice, breathing technique, and conversational speaking. You may also find it useful if you are searching for information on voice coaching, voice training, voice overs, podcasting, broadcasting, presenting, being a voice over actor and newsreading, audio branding, public speaking, the recorded voice, vocal tips, performance, vocal health education, vocal technique and voice over training.
Music credits: all Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
"Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow
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Episodes
0351 – Sounds That Drown
December 17, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 2.01 MB2021.12.17 – 0351 – Sounds That Drown What loudness means ‘Authority’ does not mean talking loud. ‘Authority’ comes, as we have seen before, from understanding the story and having the confidence to explain its significance to your listeners, with appropriate vocal expression. The louder you are, the more control of a conversation or of someone you are trying to achieve. That’s not ‘authority’, that’s ‘bullying’. Shouting does not necessarily mean excitement. It does, though, usually m...
0350 – Voice Extremes: The Louder Voice
December 16, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 1.87 MB2021.12.16 – 0350 – Voice Extremes: The Louder Voice From a whisper to a booming voice of a ‘hurry, hurry, buy now, offer ends on Saturday’ commercial, your volume speaks volumes about the message and the character. The ‘size’ and drama of a louder delivery can indicate urgency, importance, confidence, power, resolve or anger. A softer voice can convey a secret, an intimate word, a warmth, discretion, or indeed indiscretion. Getting the volume and energy right can often be the key to t...
0349 – Projection And The Audience
December 15, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 2.35 MB2021.12.15 – 0349 – Projection And The Audience The audience Your volume will alter depending on how many people are listening, where they are and what they are doing. We have seen some of this already when we discussed vocal proxemics and how you adjust your projection if you can’t see your audience. Let’s develop that a little. What if your audience is captive? Not in a hostage situation you understand, but if they are watching a video presentation such as an online training or webin...
0348 – Projection And The Message
December 14, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.03 MB2021.12.14 – 0348 – Projection And The Message The message Lowering your volume has a double effect: it not only makes your voice softer and quieter, but it also becomes more resonant. As we saw earlier, this means the sound is more-full and more pleasant to listen to. Think about it, a loud voice or shout is far from ‘smooth’ or ‘rich’ or ‘resonant’. Therefore, a softer voice may be appropriate for messages that convey trust, experience, maturity and warmth. That isn’t to say you whisper...
0347 – Projection And The Location
December 13, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.22 MB2021.12.13 – 0347 – Projection And The Location The location We have already seen how we usually speak louder outside than in, and, obviously speak louder when there are other noises to compete against. But there are other elements which affect the volume we choose to use too. We may speak more loudly when we are trying to excite, and perhaps more softly when encouraging – but I’m sure you may be able to think of circumstances when we do quite the opposite. For instance: the manager of a...
0346 – Projection And Character
December 12, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 1.8 MB2021.12.12 – 0346 – Projection And Character Volume is a key part of presentation from a script, whether in voice overs, voice acting, reading or presenting, and that volume needs to be appropriate for the character, the location, the message and the audience. The clues to the volume you use will be in the script, the written or studio direction, or in the outline / brief / specs provided by the scriptwriter / agency / client. It is your job to take all the clues and direction and create c...
0345 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Where They Are
December 11, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.57 MB2021.12.11 – 0345 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Where They Are Summon up an image of where that person will be when they are watching you on tv or listening to you on the radio, will also alter how you talk live, or record a piece of copy. Will it be played on breakfast TV? Is it for an instore commercial? Is it for a podcast? If you are presenting on the radio, you are likely to have a different style of presentation for a breakfast show to a late-night show. Not only will the conten...
0344 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Who They Are
December 10, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.02 MB2021.12.10 – 0344 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Who They Are Imagining Your Hidden Audience Who are they? One way to achieve an appropriate ‘point of vocus’ for your projection is by putting a photo of someone at a distance from you in the studio, that you’d imagine an actual listener to be if they were with physically you. So, if the voice-over is personal and intimate then the image would be close to you and the mic, and a louder, announcer read may require a photo the other side...
0343 – The Point of Vocus
December 09, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 1.93 MB2021.12.09 – 0343 – The Point of Vocus The Point of Vocus Put simply, the microphone is usually positioned in our ‘inmate’ zone 6-8 inches from our mouth. If it was a human ear rather than a mic that we were talking to at that distance, we would be very friendly indeed with that person! Our voice would drop in volume, the tone would change (and so too would the content – but that’s another book). But it would be inappropriate to read the news or usually to introduce a song in that kin...
0342 – Vocal Proxemics – Part 2
December 08, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.44 MB2021.12.08 – 0342 – Vocal Proxemics – Part 2 So, you have a different voice when you are with your lover in the ‘Intimate Zone’ (a very soft level that you might use to tell a secret to a friend or whisper ‘sweet nothings’ to a lover), than you use to a room of people in a ‘Public Zone’ (a louder volume used in front of lots of people who may be further away). Translate that into the studio situation. The ‘Personal’ voice level is one to use when you’re neither making-out… nor want to ...
0341 – Vocal Proxemics
December 07, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 2.21 MB2021.12.07 – 0341 – Vocal Proxemics Vocal Proxemics Associated with ‘Human Spacing’ are our vocal proxemics: the kind of voice we use in each Zone. The further away someone is, the louder and less personal your voice becomes. ‘Proxemics’ is a branch of linguistic science which describes the effects of nearness or distance in signalling attitudes. We all[1] have an inbuilt ‘virtual voice volume’ dial, which we use to adjust our loudness level depending on what we judge is needed. The b...
0340 – Your 12-Inch Voice
December 06, 2021 00:01 - 35 seconds - 336 KB2021.12.06 – 0340 – Your 12-Inch Voice Sometimes people refer to a “12-inch voice”. But what is that? It is the volume required for you to be heard only up to a 12-inch radius around yourself (approx. 30 centimetres). 12 inches is certainly in the intimate zone! Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on breathing and reading, inflection and projection, the roles pla...
0339 – Human Spacing And Its Part In Projection Theory
December 05, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 2.17 MB2021.12.05 – 0339 – Human Spacing And Its Part In Projection Theory Human Spacing What the barbecue has illustrated is Human Spacing, the ideas of anthropologist Edward T. Hall[1] from which we understand the projection needed to speak conversationally[2]. It’s because, as we have seen, there are very specific ‘social rules’ about this social distance[3]. The Public Zone This is generally over 3 metres. That is, when we are walking around town, we will try to keep at least this dista...
0338 – The Anniversary Party Analysis
December 04, 2021 00:01 - 5 minutes - 3.5 MB2021.12.04 – 0338 – The Anniversary Party Analysis VOCAL PROXEMICS AND THE FOUR VARIETIES OF VOCAL VOLUME Your natural volume We are not ‘prehistorically programmed’ to speak to people that we can’t see, let alone speak to millions of people all at once but supposedly in a friendly one-to-one conversational way. The two elements are in dichotomy. So, we try and manipulate our mind to create a false version of reality. Let’s take a step back, and consider what we do naturally. Pi...
0337 – Projection Advice to BBC Presenters
December 03, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.26 MB2021.12.03 – 0337 – Projection Advice to BBC Presenters On 2nd January 1928, 5XX (the forerunner of the BBC) broadcast its first ‘Daily Service’ from Savoy Hill in London, with The Rev H.R.L Sheppard C.H., D.D. A booklet “Hints For Preachers” was published for those who would be speaking on this new medium and were unsure how to ‘use it’. The advice: “Remember that your vast audience isn't a crowd or congregation, but various individuals to whom you are speaking in the intimacy of the...
0336 – The Feedback Loop – Part 2
December 02, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.78 MB2021.12.02 – 0336 – The Feedback Loop – Part 2 When we are in a studio, we don’t have this verbal and non-verbal feedback loop because the audience is unseen: we can’t see their nods of agreement, or hear their “uh-huhs” of understanding, and so it’s tricky for us to adjust our mode of delivery, and therefore to sound natural. We need to create a construct of conversationality while reading a written text aloud. You know what it’s like when you’re talking to someone at a barbecue or bus...
0335 – Mouth Open, Eyes Closed
December 01, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.56 MB2021.12.01 – 0335 – Mouth Open, Eyes Closed I once knew a man who spoke in a very loud voice. He commanded the conversation both with his volume and also with his body language, because when he spoke in his overbearing, bumptious tone… he’d close his eyes. What he was doing was shutting out all external signals that would have told him to cede the floor: he would not see someone stepping back, looking away, shaking their head and so on, which meant he could continue barking until he had...
0334 – The Broken Feedback Loop
November 30, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.72 MB2021.11.30 – 0334 – The Broken Feedback Loop In a face-to-face or even voice-to-voice conversation (such as a phone call), most people constantly monitor their role in relation to others: · taking turns so they don’t monopolise a conversation · the speaker adds verbal checks to confirm that the other person is listening and understanding (“you know what I mean?”) · the listener adds verbal confirmations back to the speaker to show they are listening and understanding...
0333 – The Big Projection Problem
November 29, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 836 KB2021.11.29 – 0333 – The Big Projection Problem The big problem is that in our line of work - broadcasting, podcasting or voice-overing – we are in an ‘unnatural situation’. A million years ago, our prehistoric ancestors would talk, live, to a handful of people who were standing nearby. Then as communities grew, people would talk live to larger crowds standing in front of them. Today, we sit alone in a room, and talk to far greater numbers of people, who we can’t see but who are all listenin...
0332 – Presenting Projections on TV and Radio
November 28, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.12 MB2021.11.28 – 0332 – Presenting Projections on TV and Radio In television a conversational projection is more appropriate because the reader has an illusion of eye contact with the audience, and television audiences offer more of their undivided attention than do radio listeners. Radio presenters have to work harder to cut through distractions and background noise before reaching the listener, especially if you are being heard on somebody’s car radio or in a living room full of hyperactive ...
0331 – Interpretations of Projections
November 27, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.24 MB2021.11.27 – 0331 – Interpretations of Projections Loud speakers can come over as assured and energetic - or aggressive or bumptious, full of themselves, larger than life, maybe a bit of a bully. They can’t or won’t monitor how their message is being received – and so don’t dial back from 11, and leave the listener feeling attacked and wanting to disengage from the message. Softer speakers can seem meek, mild and unsure of themselves or their content. A listener may consider they have...
0330 – Why Various Voice Volumes Are Vital
November 26, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 965 KB2021.11.26 – 0330 – Why Various Voice Volumes Are Vital Why ‘Various Voice Volumes Are Vital’ So why is cranking the dial up or down so useful both with scripts and adlibs? In natural English-presentation, more volume and projection are used: · to add emphasis to important content · when we are excited about the content · when we are speaking with a several people, or those who are further away · when we are angry · when we consider the listener ...
0329 – What Is ‘Energy’?
November 25, 2021 00:01 - 4 minutes - 2.48 MB2021.11.25 – 0329 – What Is ‘Energy’? Energy (or ‘presence’) This is slightly different from both volume and projection, but does have elements of those within it. ‘Energy’ is subtle and complex, and is a mix of various elements of your body and mind. So, an ‘energetic presentation’ might be a mix of varying degrees of: Your Body · Volume – but you’re not shouting · Projection – but you’re not too intense · Pace - but not like an action-packed livestock auction...
0328 – The Shower Head Analogy
November 24, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.74 MB2021.11.24 – 0328 – The Shower Head Analogy Projection is ‘your voice with focus’. Think of the settings on a shower head: one may be a wide ‘rain shower’ spray, another a ‘full body’ spray covering a smaller area, and then a ‘intense jet’ that uses the same overall force of water but concentrates it in a smaller more-clearly targeted area. So, think of the soundwaves leaving your mouth as being more intense in their focus, but with little or no additional volume. Flick the setting and hav...
0327 – What Is ‘Projection’?
November 23, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.61 MB2021.11.23 – 0327 – What Is ‘Projection’? Projection – There is a subtle difference between ‘volume’ and ‘projection’, where the latter is a more nuanced way of ‘throwing one’s voice’ when speaking on mic in a studio to ‘reach out’ to those who you cannot see. Projection is more about the power of the voice rather than the volume. It suggests intensity and focused strength. Like a focused laser beam rather than a strong, wide torch beam. Yes, projection involves ‘loudness’ but it is less ...
0326 – What Is ‘Volume’?
November 22, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 878 KB2021.11.22 – 0326 – What Is ‘Volume’? DEFINITIONS Volume – is a basic degree in softness or loudness of your voice along the path from whispering to shouting (or ‘raising one’s voice’). Sound is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper is about 30 dB, normal conversation is about 60 dB (a motorcycle engine running is about 95 dB). Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on...
0325 – How You Naturally Pump Up The Volume
November 21, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 928 KB2021.11.21 – 0325 – How You Naturally Pump Up The Volume How You Naturally Pump Up The Volume As we saw many chapters ago, your voice is produced by air from the lungs moving over the vocal cords in the larynx in the throat. As the cords’ combination of muscle and cartilage contract and relax, the space between them increases or decreases, and the tone and pitch of the voice changes. But it’s the force and speed of air passing over them which changes the volume. Think about a shou...
0324 – A Mix Of Modulators
November 20, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.28 MB2021.11.20 – 0324 – A MIx Of Modulators Of course, volume and projection are part of the overall ‘mix of modulators’ which combine in varying degrees to give you your unique voice that you use in different situations. They are perhaps more closely related to ‘tone’ which we spoke about earlier, and that in itself is related to the content of a message: you rarely shout “I love you” but say it in a softer voice. Similarly, at a sports event you’re unlikely to whisper “C’mon you Reds…”...
0323 – The Volume of Your Voice – plus a shout out to projection and energy
November 19, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.15 MB2021.11.19 – 0323 – The Volume of Your Voice – plus a shout out to projection and energy “The mouth is a true index of character. It is through the mouth and eyes that all emotions are expressed” A.A. Milne In this chapter we’ll look at how loud you sound. There’s a section on vocal proxemics, the times you may use a softer or louder voice and a bit on mic technique too. Plus, your vocal health when it comes to both whispering and straining when projecting. Everything from...
0322 – Intonation Summary
November 18, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.59 MB2021.11.18 – 0322 – In Summary A common failing of script readers is banging out every, say, fifth word, like a beat on a drum. Or banging out unimportant words, the ‘grammar glue’ that simply link a sentence together, rather than the words which do the ‘heavy lifting’ and help explain the story. (Here I have underlined the correct ones to lift!) Having this kind of intonation gives the impression that you don’t understand the story – and of course it is your job to explain it. Intonation...
0321 – Final Intonation Considerations
November 17, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 799 KB2021.11.17 – 0321 – Final Intonation Considerations Once you have pre-read and rehearsed and are confident in what the sense of the script is, don’t necessarily read it exactly the same way each and every time. To sound convincingly conversational, you need to ‘feel’ the words each time your eyes see them, as though the thoughts are just occurring to you. As long as it’s true to the intended meaning, each time should sound like it is the first time. Intonation is important: highlighting on...
0320 – What Am I Talking About
November 16, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.68 MB2021.11.16 – 0320 – What Am I Talking About What am I talking about? “She is a miniature horse breeder and is married to an English professor.” Is she a horse breeder who is small in height, and married to a woman who is English and teaches science? Or does she breed miniature horses and married to a German who tutors in the subject of English? “The new solicitor was very concerned about his brief case and allegations about his clients’ milking machines.” Is he worried about his bag and...
0319 – Intonations In Different Languages
November 15, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 2.06 MB2021.11.15 – 0319 – Intonations In Different Languages INTONATIONS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES Each language has its intonation and some are more musical than others. In English, a wide range is used. In some instances, intonation carries the meaning of a phrase. For example, in question tags the intonation used can indicate whether the speaker is looking for agreement. It is important for speakers of other languages to be aware of intonation. If their language does not have the same range, th...
0318 – Prick Up Your Ears
November 14, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.12 MB2021.11.14 – 0318 – Prick Up Your Ears This ‘skeleton script’ comprising of just the meaning-full words, are the ones which are lifted and if you only heard these ones perhaps on the radio in the car when the kids were chattering, you get a gist of what the story was. Like catching your name being said amongst the hubbub of a party, they are the ones which prick up your ears. It’s like, as a child, listening from the upstairs bannisters to your parents talking downstairs. You can’t get eve...
0317 – The Magic Skeleton
November 13, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 2.35 MB2021.11.13 – 0317 – The Magic Skeleton You have to be careful with intonation of course: · If you lift the wrong words that you begin to sound like a bad robot and thus not conversational or natural · If you lift the wrong words, it can actually change the meaning of a sentence, and may even land you in trouble legally · If you lift too many words then the whole sentence or paragraph will be lifted, and be akin to a constant shout rather than a well-modulated, meanin...
0316 – Hearing Your Own Intonation
November 12, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 953 KB2021.11.12 – 0316 – Hearing Your Own Intonation It is difficult to be aware of the exact intonation of your own presentation, partly because of how we hear ourselves ‘inside ourselves’ through our own sound passages and vibrations. And also, it’s because we know our ‘intention of intonation’, and therefore it’s difficult to judge how exactly that message has been received. To put it another way, we hear what we said, not what others have heard and have understood by it. Those who speak i...
0315 – The ‘Question Intonation’
November 11, 2021 00:01 - 4 minutes - 2.63 MB2021.11.11 – 0315 – The ‘Question Intonation’ Those who have a ‘sing-songy’ voice which goes unnecessarily up-and-down in tone (the ‘sea-sick syndrome’), can come over as patronising. It may sound ‘up and bright’ to them but to the listener it sounds cheesy and as though the presenter is on ‘auto-pilot’ without a care for the content of the message. Other presenters go up at the end of every sentence? Like this? Whether it’s necessary or not? Are they really asking a question? Or have they ...
0314 – Circumflex Intonation
November 10, 2021 00:01 - 4 minutes - 2.69 MB2021.11.10 – 0314 – Circumflex Intonation But the human voice is capable of much more intonational gymnastics! Within some words we can go down … and then up and then down again. Or up, down, and up again. And these intonation alterations give additional clues to the listener as to what we mean. Down > up > down ( ) This is often a sneery tone, or used to signify uncertainty. · “I don’t think you doooo!” Up > down > up ( ) Suggests that we haven’t fini...
0313 – The Flat Intonation
November 09, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.06 MB2021.11.09 – 0313 – The Flat Intonation And in some situations, I may just have an almost flat intonation (with a slight raise) on a word, to signpost a meaning to the listener. For example, if I am talking, it’s the way that I would say that I’m in the middle of my sentence, and I don’t want you to interrupt me yet because I’ve got more to say about this subject, but when I have finished what I’m saying, I’ll finish and go down. Let’s take a look back at that: “So, it’s the way that I w...
0312 – The Downward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word
November 08, 2021 00:01 - 2 minutes - 1.88 MB2021.11.08 – 0312 – The Downward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word This is, unsurprisingly, a word said in a higher pitch followed by a lower one, and as you might expect often signifies closure, certainty, finality – and is what we often use at the end of a sentence, as well as: · Usually for straight questions expecting more straight answers – “Is the team playing today or tomorrow?” / “Tomorrow.” · “What will Professor Harris say?” · “Why is she so ups...
0311 – The Upward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word
November 07, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 1.9 MB2021.11.07 – 0311 – The Upward Circumflex Intonation Within A Word This is when you start saying a word in one tone, and then end it on another, giving the word an upward tonal spin from one syllable to another. It suggests a wavering lack of finality as well as: · Doubt – “I’m not sure what I think about that…” · Worry – “Will you finish now?” · A simple question that expects a simple answer – “Did you ever visit Paris?” · Do you think I care? ...
0310 – The ‘Intonation Circumflex’
November 06, 2021 00:01 - 5 minutes - 3.3 MB2021.11.06 – 0310 – The ‘Intonation Circumflex’ But one doesn’t always merely ‘push’ a whole word, sometimes by changing your inflection within a word it carries another meaning. This is the ‘word-wobble’ or ‘circumflex intonation’, denoting doubt by the reader. Consider the statement “the Moon is made of cheese” and the reply “Really?”. That reply could be said: · Really? – a matter-of-fact slightly disbelievingly, with a low, emphatic tone · Really? – a slightly more intrigu...
0309 – Intonation for Comedians
November 05, 2021 00:01 - 4 minutes - 2.58 MB2021.11.05 – 0309 – Intonation for Comedians OK this is a bit off topic, but let’s spend a moment looking at intonation in respect of the delivery of a joke. One of the reasons something is funny is because it is unexpected. And that may mean you have to change your intonation to signpost the humour. So (and this is not the joke!) what do you call the situation when lots of cars are filling a road and none of them are moving? A ‘traffic jam’ right? And you would naturally put the colour...
0308 – How Mis-Intonation Can Cause Mis-Direction
November 04, 2021 00:01 - 1 minute - 1.06 MB2021.11.04 – 0308 – How Mis-Intonation Can Cause Mis-Direction Not intonating the correct words can completely alter its meaning and tone, leading to a completely different message given to the listener. He said their action had made a walkout inevitable. Stressing the word “he” might suggest there are others who would disagree with this statement. He said their action had made a walkout inevitable. Emphasising the word said casts doubt on the truth of the statement, implyin...
0307 – 13 – A Brief Bit on Brackets (or ‘A Pause for a Part on Parentheses’)
November 03, 2021 00:01 - 4 minutes - 2.73 MB2021.11.03 – 0307 – 13 – A Brief Bit on Brackets (or ‘A Pause for a Part on Parentheses’) You will be unlikely to find these in news or commercial reads (although sometimes you might), these are clauses which may appear with brackets around them, or – just like this – with dashes… or maybe ellipses. On other times, depending on the style of the writer, they may appear inside commas. As bracketed phrases (or those in parenthesis) may appear in an ebook narration, let’s spend a few moment...
0306 – 12 – Positive Intonation About Negative Information
November 02, 2021 00:01 - 6 minutes - 4.24 MB2021.11.02 – 0306 – 12 – Positive Intonation About Negative Information Remember earlier we looked at the fulcrum of facts in a story or sentence? That is, ‘this person says this and that person says that’? Well that can be developed into situations when ‘that person says this happened and that person says it did not’. In other words, negatives, opposites, contrasts and contradictions. Words such as “didn’t”, “disagreed”, “refused”, “never”, “hadn’t”, “not”, “no” and “none” are usually ...
0305 – 11 – Positive Intonation About Positive Information
November 01, 2021 00:01 - 3 minutes - 1.99 MB2021.11.01 – 0305 – 11 – Positive Intonation About Positive Information The ideas about highlighting contrasting and new information join together, when we look at ‘positive’ words such as ‘any’, ‘all’ and ‘always’. “Police found a body in a house on Devilgate Drive, and they didn’t allow anyone to walk up there.” Remember our shades of colour in intonation. The fact that they didn’t allow anyone up the road, is new information and “anyone” may be lifted slightly. But in the following s...
0304 – Grammar Glue Part 2
October 30, 2021 23:01 - 6 minutes - 4.01 MB2021.10.31 – 0304 – Grammar Glue Part 2 or – and and or are often two sides of the same coin. “And” is often giving additional information, whereas “or” usually suggests options or alternatives are available. In a simple ‘either/or’ phrase, the “or” is often subdued, to allow the basic options either side to be coloured. “You can have chicken or fish”. But in a more complicated sentence, when there are two sets of options compared with two more you may want to highlight the “or” to be a ...
0303 – 10 – Grammar Glue
October 29, 2021 23:01 - 6 minutes - 3.82 MB2021.10.30 – 0303 – 10 – Grammar Glue Consider a dodgy phone connection and you can only hear some of what a friend is saying. You get the gist of the content from the meaningful words in the sentence: the words which actually are full of meaning, give detail and context and move the story along. Some words in a sentence don’t add much information, they are there to give it structure and hold the important words together. They act as grammar ‘glue’. You can usually dampen down these dele...
0302 – 9 – By Super-Stressing One Insignificant Word, You Downplay The Sense Of The Sentence
October 28, 2021 23:01 - 2 minutes - 1.63 MB2021.10.29 – 0302 – 9 – By Super-Stressing One Insignificant Word, You Downplay The Sense Of The Sentence “Christmas is the best time of the year.” It’s a short, straightforward sentence: this speaker loves Christmas! It is simply the best! Therefore, the words that are most-coloured are: · Christmas · Best And slightly-coloured: · Year “Christmas is the best time of the year.” But some people fall for the temptation of saying: “Christmas is the best time of ...