Talks on Talking | Page 9

Grenville Kleiser
yourself of using for the purpose of creating an effect.
Whenever you imagine that the employment of any mere word or
sentence will convey the impression that you are well informed,
substitute for it some simple expression. If you are not positively
certain as to the pronunciation of a word, never use it. If the temptation
be great, resist it; for, rely upon it, if there be in your mind the slightest
doubt on the subject, you will certainly make a mistake. Never use a
foreign word when its meaning can be given in English, and remember
that it is both rude and silly to say anything to any person who possibly
may not understand it. But never attempt, under any circumstances
whatever, to utter a foreign word, unless you have learned to pronounce
correctly the language to which it belongs."
There is need for the admonition to open the mouth well. Many people
speak with half-closed teeth, the result being that the quality of voice
and correctness of pronunciation are greatly impaired. Consonants and
vowels should be given proper significance. Muffled speech is almost
as objectionable as stammering.
It enhances the pleasure and quality of conversation to speak in

deliberate style. Rapidity of utterance often leads a speaker into such
faults as indistinctness, monotony, and incorrect breathing. Deliberate
speaking confers many advantages, not the least of which is increased
pleasure to the listener.
Many voices are too thin in quality. They fail to carry conviction even
when the thought is of superior character. The remedy here is to give
special attention to the development of deep tones. One of the best
exercises for this purpose is to practice for a few minutes daily upon the
vowel sound "O," endeavoring to make it full, deep, and melodious.
For all-round vocal development this practice should be done with
varied force and inflection, and on high as well as low keys of the
voice.
The best remedy for a weak voice is to practice daily upon explosives,
expelling the principal vowel sounds, on various keys, using the
abdominal muscles throughout. Another good exercise is to read aloud
while walking upstairs or uphill. As these exercises are somewhat
extreme, the student is recommended to practice them prudently.
Correct breathing is fundamental to correct and agreeable speaking.
The breathing apparatus should be brought under control by daily
practice upon exercises prescribed in any standard book on elocution.
Pure tone of voice depends upon the ability to convert into tone every
particle of breath used. Aspirated voice, in which some of the breath is
allowed to escape unvocalized, is injurious to the throat, and unpleasant
to the listening ear.
The speaker, whether in conversation or in public, should try always to
speak with an adequate supply of breath. Deliberate utterance will give
the necessary opportunity to replenish the lungs, so that the speaker
will not suffer from unnecessary fatigue. Needless to say, the habit
should be formed of breathing through the nose when in repose.
There is a voice of unusual roundness and fulness known as the orotund,
which is indispensable to the public speaker. It is simple, pure tone,
rounded out into greater fulness. It is produced mainly by an increased
resonance of the chest and mouth cavities, and a more vigorous action

of the abdominal muscles. It has the character of fulness, but it is not
necessarily a loud tone. It is in no sense artificial, but simply an
enlargement of the natural conversational voice.
The use of the orotund voice varies according to the intensity of the
thought and feeling being expressed. It is used in language of great
dignity, power, grandeur, and sublimity. It is appropriate in certain
forms of public prayer and Bible reading. It enables the public speaker
to vary from his conversational style. It gives vastly increased scope
and power, by enabling the speaker to bring into play all the resources
of vocal force and intensity.
Where resonance of voice is lacking, it can be rapidly developed by
means of humming the letter m, with lips closed, and endeavoring to
make the face vibrate. The tone should be kept well forward throughout
the exercise, pressing firmly against the lips and hard palate. Later the
exercise may begin with the humming m, and be developed, while the
lips are opened gradually, into the tone of ah, still aiming to maintain
the original resonance.
The speaking voice is capable of most wonderful development. There is
a duty devolving upon everyone to cultivate beauty of vocal utterance
and diction. Crudities of speech so commonly in evidence are mainly
due to carelessness and neglect. It is a hopeful sign, however, that
greater attention is now being given to this important subject than
heretofore. Surely there is nothing more important than the
development of the
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