As mentioned in the Focus Words and Prominence section, each thought group generally has one or two focus words. However, everyone speaks differently, and there is so much room to find your own speaking style with focus words. This means there may be additional focus words in a thought group. You can also show your tone through focus words. Certain words may be stressed in a way that is unique to the tone you wish to portray. It’s useful to practice speaking with different focus words to find what feels comfortable for your own style and tone. In this section, we will explore style and tone separately and together, and you will have opportunities to practice using your voice to express yourself.
Style
While there are many reasons someone may choose to speak a certain way and stress certain words, much of this comes down to individual style. If you think about different English speakers you know, you may realize that each person speaks in a different way that is unique to them. It is helpful to find ways to unlock this style for yourself in order to truly express your personality and individuality when you speak English.
In the comedic clip from the show Seinfeld shown below, you will hear one line, “These pretzels are making me thirsty” said four times, by four different characters. Each character has his or her own idea of how the line should be said. You will hear four different interpretations of one line, and each speaker uses pausing, stress, and volume to show speaking style.
-
1. These pretzels are making me thirsty.
You may have noticed that this was a neutral way of expressing this character’s (Kramer) thoughts. Only two words were stressed.
2. These pretzels are making me thirsty.
The character (Elaine) stresses an additional word and says it in a way that makes her seem confused or slightly disgusted.
3. These pretzels / are making me thirsty.
The character (Jerry) uses a more emphatic tone, stressing more words. His choice of focus words is a bit too intense, and this is why the audience laughs. He also adds a pause in between “pretzels” and “are,” which seems a bit unnatural. This is an example of individual speaking style, and Jerry Seinfeld is choosing to speak in this slightly awkward way in order to produce a comedic effect.
4. These pretzels / are making me thirsty!
The character (George) yells most of this line, using an additional pause to express intense emotions. He stresses an additional word, and you can tell he is upset and frustrated by his tone of voice, focus word choice, and overall volume.
Here are some additional examples of how people individually use stress and focus words to express themselves. The meaning may not be different, but the speakers naturally may say them differently because of style. Don’t worry if you have trouble hearing the differences between these recordings. They are very subtle, and this will be a skill you develop over time as you continue to practice.
-
1. The snow is beautiful, isn’t it?
2. The snow is beautiful, isn’t it?
3. The snow / is / beautiful, isn’t it?
Try repeating these sentences just as they are said on the recordings. Which way feels most comfortable for you?
Tone
As seen in the Seinfeld clip, the way a person speaks can be a sign of their unique style, but it can also be used to express tone. In a fairly neutral way of speaking, English speakers may have a different style. When a person wishes to express more of a specific tone, such as a certain emotion, this will combine together with their overall speaking style. You may have noticed that George’s line was yelled and he seemed quite exasperated. This is a sign of not only his style, but his tone as well.
Here are some examples:
1. He never cleans his room.
This has a relatively neutral sound. There is one focus word. It may be difficult to tell how this person feels about the situation.
2. He never cleans his room.
This version has an angry sound to it, and it is partly because of focus words. The speaker emphasizes each word to show the importance of the situation, and that there are strong feelings regarding the meaning of this sentence.
3. He never cleans his room.
This version of the sentence has fewer focus words. The person sounds more dismissive, or even like they are slightly amused by this fact.
4. He never cleans his room.
The focus on the word never shows that this person may be annoyed. While the speaker doesn’t sound angry, there is certainly a negative feeling towards this person’s actions.
Note: The focus words could be the same and still express different tones. It’s important to hear many different examples of speaking styles and emotions to understand how to portray a certain mood. Focus words are one piece of the puzzle to how emotions and speaking style can be expressed through the voice.
Now you try it!
Try repeating the sentence “He never cleans his room” in different ways. First, repeat each of the sentences as they were recorded. Then, try to see if you can find different ways to experiment with a large variety of emotions, such as happiness, sadness, or even sarcasm.
Video Example
In this clip from The Odd Couple, the two main characters, Oscar and Felix, are having a discussion about their frustrations of being roommates. Watch the clip, and take note of the different tones you hear. How would you characterize Oscar and Felix’s tone?
Explanation
In the beginning of the clip, there is a bit of a mismatch between Felix’s tone and the words he is using, which causes some confusion, but is also meant to be funny. His tone is very angry and loud, but his words are very kind. Oscar’s tone is a bit dismissive.
As time goes on, they are each angry, and then Oscar changes his tone to sadness along with anger. Finally, Felix has a very apathetic tone towards Oscar’s sadness, leading Oscar to get angry after Felix mentions cleaning again.
Had these actors spoken the lines in different tones, there would have been a completely different impact on the audience. This is an example of why tone is so important when speaking.
Role play: Putting Style and Tone Together
You will hear the same role play two times. In each role play, the text is the same, but the speakers use style and tone to speak in a different way. Listen to each version and read the explanations to understand how style and tone work together, and how they can be changed, even when the text is the same.
Version 1
Roberta: Hey, did you finish the homework?
Parker: No. I’m really confused about what to do with number two.
Roberta: Can I take a look at it?
Parker: You really always know your stuff, don’t you?
Roberta: Well, I study hard.
Parker: That’s true. You know, maybe we can work on this more together.
Roberta: Sure. If you need help, I’m here. Want to study on Saturday?
Parker: Yes, please!
Roberta: Done. Let’s do it.
Explanation: In this dialogue, Roberta starts off as pretty neutral. No real tone can be detected, and she is using her own speaking style. Parker has more of a tone over his speaking style from the very beginning, showing he is irritated by the homework. Roberta adds a more defensive tone when she feels she is being teased or patronized. In the end, they both change their tone to a more friendly, neutral one.
Version 2
Roberta: Hey, did you finish the homework?
Parker: No. I’m really confused about what to do with number two.
Roberta: Can I take a look at it?
Parker: You really always know your stuff, don’t you?
Roberta: Well, I study hard.
Parker: That’s true. You know, maybe we can work on this more together.
Roberta: Sure. If you need help, I’m here. Want to study on Saturday?
Parker: Yes, please!
Roberta: Done. Let’s do it.
Explanation: In this version of the dialogue, there is a neutral start as before, but this time, Parker has a different tone. He is sad, leading Roberta to use a sympathetic tone. The tones change to ones showing hope and encouragement. It ends with Roberta using her tone to show motivation.
Suggested extra practice:
1. Choose one of the questions below:
-
1. How did you feel when you first began classes at Baruch?
2. What is your favorite city in the world? Why?
3. Do you like to talk on the phone, or do you prefer to text?
2. Now, choose a tone from the list below:
-
Happy
Sad
Bored
Playful
Angry
3. Choose to express one of these tones when you plan your answer. Consider how you may use focus words and pausing to help you. Your answer should be no longer than 30 seconds.
4. After you plan, practice your answer using the tone you chose.
5. Record your answer.
6. Now, listen back to your answer. Do you feel that your tone matched what you were attempting to portray in your answer?
7. Next, go back and choose a different tone. Using the same question, repeat steps 3-6.
8. Finally, send both of your recordings to a friend. Show them the possible tones, and have them guess which ones you were using. Did they get it right? If not, try again until they do!
To get extra speaking practice with tone while speaking, try out the extra practice from our podcast, Just to Be Clear.