Paralinguistic features
Paralinguistic features
• Introduction
Paralinguistic features are non-verbal signals that help you to give urgency to your voice. Your voice is your trademark. Therefore it is useful to understand the features of voice. All languages of the world mostly share common paralinguistic features. There are 8 prominent features.
1. Quality
Each one of us has a unique voice. Our voice quality depends upon its mechanism. It may be rich, echoing, soft, alluring, thin and nasal, hoarse or husky (Rough), harsh or irritating. One can make conscious efforts to improve one’s quality of voice.
2. Volume
Volume is the loudness or the softness of the voice. our voice should not always be loud or low. We should vary our volume to make our voice audible and clear.
3. Pace/Rate
Rate is the number of words which we speak per minute. WPM It may vary from person to person. It can be 80 to 250 words per minute. The normal rate is from 120 to 150 words. We can very it according to the situation. A well paced message affects audience the most.
4. Pitch
Pitch refers to the number of per second vibrations of your voice. The rise and fall of the voice conveys various emotions. A well balanced pitch results in a clear and effective tone.
5. Articulation
Speakers should be careful not to slop, chop, cut, disgrace or omit sounds between words or sentences. If all the sounds are not uttered properly, the flow of understanding gets interrupted. It create problems for the listener in grasping the meaning of the message.
6. Pronunciation
Pronunciation means to speak out sounds in a way that is generally accepted. One should be careful enough to pronounce individual sounds along with word stress according to the set norms. Wherever there is confusion, always consult a good dictionary and try to pronounce it correctly.
• 7. Modulation of Voice
Modulation refers to the way we regulate, vary or adjust the tone, pitch, and volume of our voice. Modulation of voice brings flexibility and vitality to our voice, and we can express emotions and sentiments in the best possible way.
• 8. Pauses
A pause is a short silence between words or sentences. A pause in speaking lets the listener reflect on the message and digest it accordingly. It helps us to glide from one thought to another. It makes our speech beautiful.
• Conclusion
By practicing these paralinguistic features in our daily life, we can make our speaking more impactful. People like to listen the speech which is embellished by the good use of paralinguistic features