1. Oral Communications Your Voice is a Tool! Let’s learn how to use it!!

2. Using Your Voice as a CommunicationTool Improve your pronunciation. Work on your voice quality. Control your pitch. Adjust your volume and rate. Use emphasis to express meaning.

3. Pronunciation  Saying words correctly and clearly.  Intelligence, education, competence…not to mention confidence.

4. Using Your Voice as a CommunicationTool Improve your pronunciation.  “naturally” – not “natcherly”  “accessory” – not “assessory”  “don’t you” – not “doncha”

5. Voice Quality and Pitch  Sends a non verbal message.  Identifies mood.  Does your voice project a positive or negative quality about you?  Don’t be monotone. Monotone = boring!

6. Using Your Voice as a CommunicationTool Improve your pronunciation. Work on your voice quality.  Do you sound friendly, alert, or positive?  Do you sound angry, slow-witted, or negative?

7. Volume and Rate  Degree of loudness.  Pace of your speech.  Both send non verbal messages.  Discuss examples…

8. Using Your Voice as a CommunicationTool Control your pitch.  Avoid a flat, monotone voice.  Strive for a variety of pitch patterns. Work on your voice quality. Work on your voice quality.

9. Using Your Voice as a CommunicationTool Control your pitch. Adjust your volume and rate.  Speak as loudly or softly as the occasion demands.  Don’t make your listeners strain to hear you.  Don’t speak too rapidly.

10. Emphasis  By emphasizing or stressing certain words, you can change the meaning you are expressing.  Example…  I didn’t say he stole the book.  Uptalk – Do or don’t?

11. Using Your Voice as a CommunicationTool Adjust your volume and rate. Use emphasis to express meaning.  Stress those words that require emphasis.  A lower pitch and volume make you sound professional or reasonable.