A level drama Voice terms

Inflection

A change in pitch or tone that alters the meaning or emotional colour of a word or phrase

Modulation

A deliberate variation in pitch, pace or volume within a single line

Projection

The controlled use of breath and resonance to carry the voice without shouting

Clipped Delivery

Short, controlled, emotionally guarded speech.

Staccato

Short, sharp, clearly detached sounds or words

Legato

a smooth, connected, flowing delivery between words

Pregnant pause

a silence loaded with unspoken meaning or tension.

Vocal register

the specific part of the vocal range used, e.g. chest or head voice

Resonance

the depth and richness of a voices sound

Diction

the clarity and precision of pronounication

Rhetorical stress

deliberately emphasising a specific word to shape meaning

Vocal subtext

using tone of voice to suggest a meaning different from the words themselves.