When an individual listener is recounting to another the words of a public speaker they are likely to imitate not only their words but their tone as well. Most speakers are unaware of the importance of their tone in public speaking, but like enunciation, gesturing and emphasis tone is a fundamental component of successful speech.

The tone of a speaker’s voice should be both clear and agreeable in order to ensure that the listening audience is able to clearly distinguish what they are saying and interpret it properly. Good speaking tone is something that can be acquired through proper practice in public speaking techniques, provided that these techniques emphasize the importance of the physiology behind its production.

The Physiology of Tone

The body’s vocal cords, the organs responsible for the production of a clear and agreeable tone, are located in a triangular chamber at the upper end of the windpipe. In men, the front angle of this triangular chamber form’s the “Adam’s Apple” in the throat. (Women have an Adam’s Apple as well, but because their larynx does not grow to the same extent as a man’s during puberty it is considerably less noticeable.)

The vocal cords themselves are two tapes of membrane that can be brought together and stretched. Passing air causes the cords to vibrate, sending a vibration through the air and out the mouth to form sound. It is at this point that clearness is often lost in public speaking, because the speaker’s nerves cause the cords to vibrate improperly. The speaker may “choke”, or experience the sensation of their “tongue sticking to the roof of their mouth”. Sometimes their breathing will become so strident that the air entering and leaving the trachea makes more noise than the tones they are trying to produce, effectively drowning them out. (Most people hear this when they are near someone who is either hyperventilating or having an asthma attack.)

Correcting Tone

Since students of public speaking are rarely aware that they have a problem with their tone it is up to their instructor and their peers to help them correct it. Good tone is formed by unlocking the jaws (a common occurrence when the body tenses) and loosening the lips enough that they are able to move freely. This will allow the vocal organs to align properly, producing a clear, strong resonance to their speech that will enable it to clearly express a thought or opinion.

Many speakers suffer from a nasal quality in their tone, making their words strongly resemble 90’s television star Steve Urkel (Family Matters). This is due to a lack of free resonance in the head and nose passages and is often seen in people with head colds and/or swollen adenoids. In public speakers this is caused by a subconscious but intentional constriction of the airway and can be overcome with effort and instruction.

Tone is a vital part in creating a positive impression when speaking. A speaker with a nasal whine comes across as annoying, while forced tones create the impression that the speaker is trying too hard. Maintaining a smooth, natural tone and cadence is the gold standard that all students of public speaking should strive for.

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