vocalics

Page 1: Paralanguage (Vocalics)

• Introduction to the study of paralanguage

Page 2: Discussion Prompt

• Video discussion: Link

• Introduces the relevant topics for the week

Page 3: Importance of Accent

• Examples of how placing different accents affects the meaning:

  • "He's giving this money to his sister."

  • Various emphases highlight different interpretations.

Page 4: Understanding Paralanguage

• Definition of Paralanguage (Vocalics):

  • Component of meta-communication that conveys meaning through voice.

  • Includes verbal and non-verbal elements.

  • Used frequently in daily communication, often subconsciously.

  • Encompasses intentional and unintentional meanings behind spoken words.

Page 5: Significance of Vocal Cues

• Findings from Mehrabian (1967): Tone is more revealing than gestures.

• Developmental stages in interpreting verbal vs non-verbal cues:

  • Children focus on verbal

  • Adolescents mix both

  • Adults prioritize non-verbal cues

• Function of vocal cues in persuasion:

  • Pitch variation, fewer pauses, faster speech, and fluency improve communication.

Page 6: Emotions and Sounds

• Examples of vocal sounds associated with different emotions:

  • Tired, macho, aggressive, happy, depressed, bored, confrontative, selling.

Page 7: Self-Reflection Questions

• How do friends describe your speech?

• How do you perceive others' speech?

• Factors that make speech attractive or unattractive.

Page 9: Qualities of Paralanguage

• Key qualities:

  • Pronunciation: How words are pronounced.

  • Articulation: Clarity of speech.

  • Loudness: Intensity of voice.

  • Pitch: Variability in voice tone.

  • Duration: Length of sounds.

  • Regularity: Rate of speech.

  • Silence: Meaningful pauses.

  • Quality: Timbre and tone of voice.

Page 10: Vocal Qualities by George L. Trager

• Eight vocal qualities of interest include:

  • Pitch range: Variation between high and low tones.

  • Control: Control over vocal and lip movements.

  • Glottis control: Regulation of airflow.

  • Articulation control: Clear and precise sound production.

  • Tempo control: Speed of speech.

  • Resonance: Reverberation effect in the voice.

  • Rhythm control: Smooth vs. jerky speech patterns.

Page 11: Types of Vocalizations

• Vocal Characterizers: Stand-alone emotional sounds (e.g., laughter, crying).

• Voice Qualifiers: Variations in pitch, volume, and rate of speech (e.g., intensity, duration).

• Vocal Segregates: Filler sounds or words used in pauses (e.g., "um", "err").

Page 12: Functions of Vocalics

• Vocalics as a channel for:

  • Identification and self-presentation

  • Interaction management

  • Relationship dynamics

  • Emotional expression

  • Potential deception detection.

Page 13: Cultural Influence on Voice

• Exploration of how changing manners and accents can alter social status (My Fair Lady reference).

  • Link to Pronunciation Video

Page 14: Accents and Dialects

• Evaluating dialects involves three dimensions (Mulac, 1976):

  • Sociointellectual status: Reflections of social and economic background.

  • Aesthetic quality: Personal preferences toward pleasing or displeasing accents.

  • Dynamism: Perceptions of aggressiveness and loudness.

Page 15: Perception of Accents

• Accents affect first impressions.

• Communication adjustments when speaking to non-native English speakers.

Page 16: Video Reference

• Australian Accent Video

Page 17: Turn-taking in Conversation

• Cues for regulating conversation:

  • Turn-requesting and yielding cues.

  • Turn-maintaining and denying cues.

  • Use of pauses for effective turn-taking.

Page 18: Socioeconomic Class and Turn-taking

• Class differences in conversational behaviors according to research.

  • Working vs. middle-class tendencies in speech patterns.

Page 19: Relationship Dynamics through Vocalics

• Influence of speech on attraction, credibility, and emotional connection.

• Vocal similarities can enhance social attractiveness.

Page 20: Emotion and Voice

• Eight vocal characteristics influence emotional expression (Scherer, 1979):

  • Amplitude, pitch, tempo, duration, filtration, tonality, and rhythm dynamics.

Page 21: Extroversion and Speech Characteristics

• Extroverted individuals display:

  • Higher fluency, vocal variation, and volume.

  • Women with lower pitches perceived as more dominant.

Page 22: Voice Types and Attributes

• Various voice characteristics and the perceptions they create:

  • Breathy: sexy, artistic

  • Tense: anxious

  • Nasal: whiny

  • Flat: bored

  • Thin: immature

  • Throaty: sophisticated

Page 23: Inferring Attributes from Voice

• Voice can convey:

  • Sex, age, social class, recipient characteristics, and emotions like anxiety.

Page 24: Deception and Vocal Cues

• Questioning patterns can reveal deception.

• Non-verbal cues often provide more reliable indicators than verbal communication.

Page 25: Interactive Exercise

• Engage with peers in a game of "Two Truths and One Lie".

• Focus on vocal cues used in deceit detection.

Page 26: Reflection on Detecting Lies

• Analyze cues used to identify deception during the exercise.

Page 27: Speech and Biases

• Self-perception of one’s own dialect perception.

• General American English favored over regional accents.

• Discussion on speech patterns that defy expectations (e.g., Arnold Schwarzenegger).

Page 28: Cultural References

• Notable commentary on speaking patterns (My Fair Lady, Ron Perlman on Trump's speech).

Page 29: Portfolio Exercise

• Reflect on vocal qualities and personal speech descriptions.

• Compare voices of different speakers using key terms and adjectives.