Oral Communication Study Guide
Name______________________________
Speech for Effective Communication
Chapter 3: Using Your Voice
Understanding and Improving Vocalization
Pages 53 - 79
I.
Your voice is produced through the use of the following three major physical components in
coordination with other parts
A. _____________________________
B. _____________________________
C. _____________________________
II. The generators of sound
A. _______________________ (or _______________________) are the primary generators of
sound which are the muscles that make up the larynx.
B. _______________________ is a dome-shaped muscle under the lungs that contracts and
relaxes to cause increased or decreased respiration. It helps to produce power and projection
in the voice.
Try it ... press your fingers into the area just below your chest and attempt to project sound You will feel
your stomach tighten, especially at the top where the diaphragm is at work.
III. The resonators of sound
A. Resonance is _____________________________________________________________
B. Resonation occurs in the _______________________, _______________________, and
_______________________
1. Resonance begins in the _______________________ which is also called the
pharyngeal cavity. It is one of the larger cavities which produces more sound variety.
2. The _______________________ or nasal cavity produces higher sounds.
3. The _______________________ or oral cavity also is able to produce a variety of
sounds, and it is the easiest to alter through training.
Why is the oral cavity the area
that humans are best able to control resonance?
IV. The articulators of sound
A. Articulation is ____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
B. The major articulators include the ______________________, ______________________,
______________________, and ______________________
Why is articulation training a key element in the development of voice?
V. Improving vocalization
A. Common problems are associated with ____________________, the highness or lowness
of the sound projected:
1. A ____________________ voice suffers from a lack of melody or variation in pitch.
2. ____________________ is the upward or downward glide of pitch that creates an
emphasis of meaning:
a. Rising inflection conveys ____________________ or ____________________
b. Falling inflection shows ____________________ or ____________________
c. Try it. What does your voice sound like as you experiment with rising and falling
inflection?
B. Speakers are often too loud or too soft which reveals a problem with _________________.
What are some examples and reasons for this common issue?
C. A speaker's ____________________ or the speed at which you talk can create difficulty
for an audience. Normal speed is _______ to _______ words per minute.
D. The quality or ____________________ creates several voice problems:
1. Nasality is ___________________________________________________________
2. Breathiness is ________________________________________________________
3. Harshness is _________________________________________________________
4. Hoarseness is ________________________________________________________
VI. Identifying articulation errors
A. Sound substitution – e.g.: “da” for “the” or “radder” for “rather” Can you think of other
examples?)
B. Sound omission – shortcutting words like “probly” for “probably,” “frien” for “friend,”
“holla” for “hollar” Why does this occur?
C. Sound adding – “idear” for “idea,” “athaletic” for “athletic” Can you think of other
examples?
D. Sound transposing – switching or reversing the order of sounds: “aks” for “ask,”
“hundred” for “hundred,” “modern” for “modern”
VII. Correcting vocal problems—Brainstorm a list of methods to help individuals with various
vocalization issues:
1.
6.
2.
7.
3.
8.
4.
9.
5.
10.
Chapter 3: Using Your Voice / 2