Kate's Voice

The spoken run on sentence is also full of run on ideas and thoughts that confuse our communication because we stop being able to concentrate when there is no conclusion and too much data in what we hear as one long string of sound after awhile so we stop listening.  Get it?  Well, that is my reason for training people to use cadence effectively.  Cadence provides interest as well as definition.  It makes it easier for others to understand us.  In addition, Cadence communicates a vocal image even when you aren’t aware of it!

What is cadence?

Cadence is the way a sentence ends.  It is also the inflection of your speech.  There are two basic kinds of vocal cadence: open and closed.  An open cadence goes up in pitch at the end of a sentence, sounding much like a question.  Using this kind of cadence invites others to join the conversation, to interject remarks.  It sounds friendly.  It can also sound flaky and inconclusive.  The other kind of cadence, closed, goes down in pitch at the end of a sentence or idea.  It sounds definitive and conclusive and tells others that you are sure of yourself.  It can also sound harsh and closed to others’ ideas.  To use the two forms of cadence effectively, you must mix them up, sounding open when you are friendly and inviting others to join in, and using closed cadence to finish your thoughts or state an opinion.

Take a look!

In this video,  Taylor Mali has another view on this.  He says that cadence shows conviction.  Well, he doesn’t really say that,  but this video will show you what happens when you don’t appear to finish a statement.  It’s a great example of the overuse of open cadence. You know?

Related posts:

Three Ways to Keep the Clock from Ruining Your Vocal Impact

Investing in Your Vocal Image: A Tale of Two Strategies

As I’ve said before, your voice is a powerful tool. Using it with awareness and skill is essential to your credibility and persuasiveness as a speaker. The sound of your voice—your “vocal image”—can imply such things as friendliness or hostility, tolerance or prejudice, and weakness or strength. Many people fail in their communication simply because their vocal image does not align with their message.

Practical Application:  If you want to discover the nature of your vocal image, make a recording of yourself. Record yourself talking naturally in a normal conversation. If possible, also record yourself giving a short presentation.  Listen to the recording and consider the following three components of your vocal image.

Pitch:

Pitch is not determined by your volume, but rather by the notes you use when you speak.  Yes, we use notes when speaking just as we do when singing.  If you use a lot of variety in the pitch of your voice, people are likely to perceive you as friendly.  A variety of pitch also suggests flexibility and openness to others’ ideas. A voice with less pitch variance comes across as more demanding and authoritative.  Listen to your recording and determine if you have a varied pitch. Does it align with your intended message? Experiment with increasing and decreasing your pitch until it aligns with your message.

By the way, don’t take my word for it!  As a speaker, you can really benefit by reading Six Minutes, and the post on Vocal Variety, where Pitch is a big component of success for Toastmasters!!

Speed or Pace:

Listen to your recording and think about the speed of your delivery. If you speak quickly, you may be seen as assertive.  If you speak too quickly, you may seem nervous.  On the other hand, a slow delivery can be perceived as boring.  If you find that you speak too fast, force yourself to slow down and breathe more often.  If you speak too slowly, try to walk with purpose and energy while practicing your speech. A technique that many experienced speakers use is to accent their normal speed with slow speech. In doing this, the words which are spoken slowly are emphasized.  Consider how your speed of delivery aligns with the message you want to deliver.

Cadence:

Cadence is the way that you end your sentences.  Generally, a “feminine cadence” goes up in pitch at the end of a sentence. When pitch goes down at the end of a sentence, it’s a “masculine cadence.”  A feminine cadence invites a response and seems open to others’ ideas.  A masculine cadence makes a demand or a point and may sound less open to others’ ideas.  Effective speakers use both appropriately.  If people often interrupt you, you may want to add a more masculine cadence to your speech.  Similarly, if others seldom contribute to your discussions, you may be overusing the masculine cadence. Try introducing a female cadence when you would like input from others.

By the way, I really enjoy reading “The Eloquent Woman,” a blog for women on public speaking.  The author, Denise Graveline, often discusses gender differences in communication from a speaker’s perspective.  Check it out!

Record and study the natural qualities of your vocal image. Consider your pitch, speed, and cadence. Don’t forget to ask others to give you feedback so you can learn how your voice affects them. Once you become aware of your vocal image, you can begin to better align it with your message and become a more credible and persuasive speaker.