29: Communication Tips for Public Speakers, Podcasters, and Voice Actors.

Caret It Down – Arrow It Down, is the 3rd Word Emphasis speech variety lesson in this 11-episode Real Talking Tips mini-series. The up-down-up caret (v) adds emphasis to an individual word where the musicality of that word starts and ends on the same high or medium pitched note and lowers in the middle. Arrowing a sentence or phrase down, lands a thought or message as the pitch of the speaking voice progresses from a higher to lower voice.

The importance of utilizing the Word Emphasis Chart is for variety! So, practice along with this Real Talking Tips podcast, the Adding Melody To Your Voice app, and my books, There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is and Voice-Overs for Podcasting. It’s not practice makes perfect. It’s PERFECT practice makes perfect!

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Add Speech Emphasis with an Arrow Down or Caret Down.

As we continue the 11-episode Word Emphasis series, Real Talking Tips Episode 29 compliments the previous episode. This time, rather than arrow or caret a word or phrase up the actions and voice lowers in pitch.

arrow down

Arrowing a sentence or phrase down, lands a thought or message..

vlower the pitch of an angle

The up-down-up (v) caret adds emphasis to an individual word where the musicality of that word starts and ends on the same high or medium pitched note and lowers in the middle.

So, when one phrase raises… the next phrase can lower.
Or, as one word carets up… the next focus word can caret down.

Remember, the importance of utilizing the Word Emphasis Chart is for variety! So, practice along with Real Talking Tips, the Adding Melody To Your Voice app, and Elaine A. Clark’s books, There’s Money Where Your Mouth Is and Voice-Overs for Podcasting. It’s not practice makes perfect. It’s PERFECT practice makes perfect!

Caret Down - Arrow Down

Word Emphasis: Downward Caret and Arrow Down.

Let’s begin with the downward caret. With one finger in a mid-high location, drop it lower, and then return it higher to the original location. This high-low-high movement lowers the middle pitch of the word. For people who speak in a higher range, this little dip down can add more depth and low tones to voice.

We’ll use the same example as last episode, but with opposite action and speech musicality on the word – ‘emPHAsis’ The first syllable starts at the higher note, the second syllable drops to aa slightly lower pitch, and the final syllable returns to the higher pitched starting position. As it’s opposite, this movement takes a fraction more time to voice and naturally slows down the focus word and provides additional musicality to that statement.

caret it down

Because of how our body moves and reacts, there are slight changes to the physical movements and gestures from the caret up/arrow up speech patterns. Say these words aloud as you follow the directions.

  1. Finger or hand can gesture with an Up-Down-Up motion.
  2. Dropping a shoulder down doesn’t work as effortlessly as an upward shrug. A shoulder drop could be a response to a relaxing or deflating situation.
  3. Lowering the Eyebrows accompanies a concerning or puzzling statement.
  4. Dropping the Chin Down is usually an affirmative agreement.

So, with the exception of the hand or finger downward movement the other actions take on a completely different emotional context than the opposite upward caret actions in the last episode!

arrow it down

When speaking, the voice starts at a higher note and gradually lowers. Arrowing the phrase down this way adds confirmation to a statement or response and is often associated with people who are confident or authoritative. Arrowing the statement down quickly, is known as a ‘throw away.’ A quick downward hand movement often accompanies this dismissive toss off.

Practice reading aloud the 8 movements and see if you feel the difference the two speeds make in the overall Arrow Down message.

  1. Slow Hand Gesture Down.
  2. Quick Hand Gesture Down
  3. Slow Shoulder Down Deflation.
  4. Quick Shoulder Down Drop.
  5. Slow Eyebrow Movement Down.
  6. Quick Eyebrow Drop.
  7. Slow Chin Drop Down.
  8. Quick Chin Drop.

No wonder people often read more into HOW we say something rather than listen to WHAT we say!

Emphasis - Lesson 3 - Speech Variety

Practice: caret it down2 and arrow down2

Follow along as you say the same sentence 4 ways, using the slow and quick Arrow Down and Caret Down actions.

  1. Arrow down slowly at the beginning and add the downward caret on the focus word ‘variety’:
    29 1
  1. Now, arrow down quickly at the beginning and change the downward caret word to ‘provided’:
    29 2
  2. Add a caret down on the word ‘use’ and a slow arrow down on the ‘in the word emphasis chart’:
    29 3
  3. Add the downward caret on ‘speaking’ and a quick arrow down on the focus phrase ‘word emphasis chart’:
    29 4

Same words. Completely different messages. Join me in the next Word Emphasis lesson for a little ‘wiggle’ and ‘jazz.’

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