Thy voice speaketh! (Part 1)

Savieta R Batra

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]ach one of is so uniquely different. We are a composite of so many unique traits, habits, skills, attitudes, personality, body shapes and sizes; therefore the image that we project is so uniquely ours. In the earlier editions we have discussed various facets of elements that constitute our image ranging from clothing, grooming, etiquette, body language to communication skills. We have tried to decipher the best mix of all these elements to truly justify us as a person, that which we reflect outside and that which best defines us. Having come thus far, in this edition we will discuss another trait that is so peculiarly us — our voice.

We all sound so different from one another and have a distinctive tonal quality that is so distinctively ours. Our voice also becomes our defining quality as it can reveal a lot about our personality and our emotional condition to others. The pitch and the speed at which we speak convey a lot more about us than the words we use. Speaking too fast reflects nervousness or excitement, while people who speak slowly appear calm, confident and in control. People who speak in high, squeaky or whiny voices generally sound unpleasant and unstable. There’s a childlike quality in their voice that reflects immaturity. A voice that sounds too nasal may convey boredom, complaint or self-depreciation or just plain whiney. An individual who sounds throaty or hoarse may be perceived as unemotional, authoritative, indecisive or cautious. Especially in women, the voice that glides from high to a low pitch is seen as more trustworthy than the voice that goes up at the end of the word.

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