TheHumanVoice11

The Human Voice  MESSAGES are:  Packages of information  Can be:  Verbal  Non-verbal We’ve discussed NONVERBAL messages and now it’s time to work on VERBAL messages. Spoken ones, to be exact…

The Human Voice  This lesson’s goals:  Identify the parts of the body that create the voice  Identify and describe the four steps to voice production  Identify what is created at each step

The Human Voice  How is the voice made?  Step 1: RESPIRATION  Respiration is BREATHING  As you breathe in, your DIAPHRAGM (a sheet of muscle below your lungs) moves down, expanding your LUNGS

The Human Voice  How is the voice made?  Step 1: RESPIRATION  As you breathe out, your DIAPHRAGM moves up, squeezing your LUNGS and forcing out the air  The air going out carries the sound

WARNING: You will now look into someone’s throat. If you get queasy, turn away!! And keep the comments to yourself…

The Human Voice  How is the voice made?  Step 2: VIBRATION  Happens in the LARYNX (your ‘voice box’). Men can easily find it, since it is the ADAM’S APPLE  Your VOCAL CORDS vibrate as air passes through them, creating vibrations in the air (which is sound)

The Human Voice Voice Production: Vocal cords during breathing (open) Vocal cords beginning to close Vocal cords completely closed (making sound) Vocal cords beginning to relax again

The Human Voice  Why do people become hoarse after yelling?  Reason 1: Your vocal cords are controlled by muscles. Like all muscles, they can get tired.  Reason 2: When you yell too loud, the vocal cords smack together to create the sound. They can become damaged.

The Human Voice  How is the voice made?  Step 3: RESONANCE  Happens in your THROAT, your MOUTH, and your NASAL CAVITY  This is where your voice is AMPLIFIED and PITCH is created  This step creates vowels

The Human Voice  How is the voice made?  Step 4: ARTICULATION  Happens in your MOUTH  Structures in your mouth DEFINE AND CHANGE THE VOICE INTO WORDS  This is where consonants are made

The Human Voice  Vocal Qualities  Aside from a perfect, neutral speaking voice (very rare) each person’s voice has one or more qualities which can be easily defined  BREATHY  LOW RESONANCE, QUIET PITCH  RASPY  GRAVELLY, HOARSE SOUND  SHRILL  HIGH PITCH, HARSH SOUND  NASAL  SPEAKING AS IF ALL OF THE SOUND WERE COMING OUT OF THE NOSE  DENASAL  CONSTANLY SOUNDS STOPPED-UP, LIKE WITH ALLERGIES  HUSKY  LOW, BEEFY VOICE

The Human Voice  Vocal Qualities  Aren’t these bad traits?  Not exactly…  Each of these can be a good thing to an extent. They can make a voice distinctive  TOO MUCH of a vocal quality can HURT understanding, and then it becomes NOISE

The Human Voice Okay, let’s try this out!  Pick a partner  Compare voices to find each of your qualities. If there are any, write them down  Be ready to tell the class what they are and why YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES TO DO THIS! GO!

The Human Voice  Review:  Respiration is:  BREATHING  The sheet of muscle that controls breathing is:  THE DIAPHRAGM  The larynx is also called:  THE VOICE BOX  Vocal cords do what:  VIBRATE TO PRODUCE SOUND  Resonance is:  AMPLIFICATION OF VOICE AND PITCH CREATION  Articulation is:  DEFINING AND CHANGING THE VOICE INTO WORDS