Kate's Voice

When I did a Google search on Obama’s baritone, I got 19,600,000 results. Clearly, there is a lot of  interest in his voice as part of his success.  His prowess as a speaker is even accepted by the opposition. In fact, the latest research seems to indicate that, if the election results are determined by the two candidates’ oration skills, Obama will win, hands down.  This new study, published by the Vox Institute in Geneva, studied both candidates from the perspective of researchers on speech-communication and emotion-psychology.  The study revealed that even though Senator Obama seems to have a permanent look of anxiety on his face (and who wouldn’t if they were signing up for the job of President of the United States?!), McCain’s lack of emotion in both his face and his voice tell us that McCain is weaker than Obama. Add that to the general consensus that a rich, baritone voice is about the best one to have, and the study seems to suggest that we will be singing hail to Obama the chief!

In another study, researchers at Kent State  discovered in 2002 a component of speech that they said was a guaranteed predictor of success for presidential debates.  The study analyzed the voices of presidential candidates in debates since 1960.  They found an aspect of speech that they called a “hum,” in this case an ability to keep your voice steadfast.  You see, they found that people tend to alter their delivery style when they are unsure of themselves, or when they perceive the other speaker(s) as having more authority.  Those candidates in the debates who kept their voices steadfast always won the most votes.

So what does this mean to the voter?  Clearly, it confirms that the voice is a powerful tool and being a good communicator is important and that a great orator has the ability to sway us just with the sound of his or her voice.  Therefore,  before going to the polls, we have to be sure to look beyond a candidates’ voice and hear what they are actually saying.  What is their intention, besides winning?  Do their words, plans and promises align with their intention?  THEN we can evaluate whether or not both align with the sound of their voice and their delivery style, and with our own values and beliefs.

Now, I have a confession.  I may not pay attention to my own advice, as I am biased.  I think it would be wonderful to be represented on the world stage by someone with a beautiful voice again!!

With the conventions about to get underway, it is fascinating to consider the many influences over who we choose for our elected officials.  In this case, I am specifically wondering if we choose them by what they say or HOW they say it.  In a well-known study by Dr. Albert Mehrabian at UCLA in the 1970’s, it was learned that content is only responsible for 7% of a speaker’s appeal.  A whopping 93% of our opinion of a speaker is based on the sound of their voice and other related physical factors.

What is even more interesting to me is that what we consider appealing changes over time, just as fashions do.  Today, we like voices that sound real rather than cultivated, although it is true that ALL voice s are cultivated…but more on that later. As opposed to the time of the great orators like FDR, today we don’t even mind if our politicians make grammatical errors.  In fact, to us, it makes them seem more real.  We think we can relate better to people who make mistakes.  That being said, we sure don’t want them to  make mistakes when it comes to policy decisions!!

When you listen to the conventions, keep this in mind:  Do you like what they say, or how they say it, or both?