Did you ever hear a presenter
speak in Mon-O-Tone?
Did I hear some say, “R2D2 of Star Wars fame?
If you did, you probably couldn’t wait for the talk to end, and it’s doubtful you remember anything from the speech.
Inflection, or Voice Modulation, is “change in the pitch or tone of the voice.” Varying your tone throughout the speech – raising your voice slightly to indicate a question, lowering it to end a declarative sentence, speaking louder to indicate excitement or softer to express sadness – will help keep your audience awake and alert!
There are several kinds of inflection: Upward – Downward – Level – and Circumflex.
Let’s look at each of them:
Upward Inflection
- This is when there is a change in pitch going from a lower to a higher note within the vowel
- Most often, this change in pitch indicates questioning, insincerity, surprise or suspense.
- Examples: Raise the pitch at the end of these words, keeping in mind what they convey with a downward inflection.
- No!
- Wow!
- Really
- Examples: Raise the pitch at the end of these words, keeping in mind what they convey with a downward inflection.
- Most often, this change in pitch indicates questioning, insincerity, surprise or suspense.
Downward Inflection
- This is when there is a change in pitch going from a higher to a lower note within the vowel.
- Most ofter, this change in pitch indicates confidence, finality, power and certainty.
- Examples: Lower the pitch at the end of these words. keeping in mind what they convey with a downward inflection.
- Done
- No
- Go
- Examples: Lower the pitch at the end of these words. keeping in mind what they convey with a downward inflection.
- Most ofter, this change in pitch indicates confidence, finality, power and certainty.
Level Inflection
- This is when there is no change in pitch within the vowel.
- Most often, this indicates disinterest and indecision.
- Examples: Don’t vary the pitch in these words.
- OK
- Maybe
- Fine
- Examples: Don’t vary the pitch in these words.
- Most often, this indicates disinterest and indecision.
Double or Circumflex Inflection
- This is when there is a rising and falling, or a falling and rising of pitch within the vowel.
- Most often, this change in pitch indicates confidence, finality, power, and certainty.
- Examples: Lower the pitch at the end of these words. keeping in mind what they convey with a downward inflection.
- Done
- No
- Amazing
- Examples: Lower the pitch at the end of these words. keeping in mind what they convey with a downward inflection.
- Most often, this change in pitch indicates confidence, finality, power, and certainty.
Lowering your inflection at the end of a sentence makes it more powerful and gives the audience the impression you believe your own message.
Use upward inflections in the middle of a sentence to make the sentence more interesting and bring some attention to your point.
It’s important to vary the pitch. It will help keep your audience in tune (no pun intended!) with your message and understand its substance.
Try the following exercise to demonstrate the importance this can have in your delivery.
Say slowly, and out loud, this sentence: “I did not say he lost the keys.”
Each time you say it, put the Inflection on the underlined word.
Exercise:
- “I did not say he lost the keys.” (If not you, who said it?)
- “I did not say he lost the keys.” (Maybe you wrote it?)
- “I did not say he lost the keys.” (I guess someone else lost the keys.)
- “I did not say he lost the keys.” (Perhaps he gave them away?)
- “I did not say he lost the keys.” (Gee! I hope he didn’t lose the car!)
Amazing, isn’t it, how the entire meaning of a sentence can change by inflecting one of its words? Use this tool in delivering your speech and you’ll see fewer yawning faces in the audience!
One excellent way to get the attention of the audience is to lower your voice. It’s a pattern interrupt that sends out the message, “Listen – This is important!”
This technique is particularly effective if you’re speaking with excitement and passion, and suddenly pause . . . lower your voice, and say, “ . . .”
The quieter your voice gets, the more important the message is perceived to be.
The concept is analogous to telling secrets. We lower our voice, and the recipient must listen more intently.
This has to be done naturally and sparingly or the effect will be minimal. Done correctly and you can create a WOW moment for your audience!
For a great description and some helpful exercises, hints and tips, from a professional voice coach, read Dr. Candice Coleman’s white paper on Using Inflection: http://www.sayitwell.com/Using_Inflections.html
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, an international coach, and the author of the books,
“NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and
“NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”
Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their Networking, Public Speaking, and
Presentation Skills.
They do this because they know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
They also know:
We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. We like to work with Experts.
He shows them how to: Develop, Practice, and Deliver Fantastic Presentations! with – NO SWEAT!
Services:
- Keynote Speaker
- Workshop Facilitator
- Breakout Sessions
- Personal and Group Public Speaking and Presentation Coaching
Topics:
- Lessening The Fear of Public Speaking with – NO SWEAT!
- Crafting Your Elevator Speech, Floor by Floor with – NO SWEAT!
- Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
- We are All Self-Employed!
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Podcast Channel, and connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook.
My books can be purchased on amazon.com.
“NO SWEAT Public Speaking”
“NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”
17 Comments
This is a great post here. Very informative, direct, and straight to the point.
Thank You!
Very good post, thank you
The Mon-O-Tone. Maybe I should start talking like that every time my kids want me to buy something for them. I hope it works. Haha
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time
to be happy. I’ve read this submit and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or
tips. Maybe you can write next articles regarding this
article. I wish to learn more issues about it!
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and may come back at some point. I want to encourage one to continue your great posts, have a nice day!|
Awesome! I will be using this page to help teach my students about performing voiceovers!
Thank you for this post.
An attention-grabbing dialogue is worth comment. I think that it is best to write more on this matter, it won’t be a taboo topic however usually people are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Having read this I believed it was really enlightening.
I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this informative article together.
I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worthwhile! https://lilisharyantoliardia.wordpress.com sukses mantap
I am so pleased to happen on your site. I am an Instructor at John Casablancas, Tulsa ,OK
always looking for new material.
Thanks,
Marti Malone
Because the admin of this website is working, no doubt very soon it
will be famous, due to its quality contents.
Very rapidly this web page will be famous among all blogging and site-building viewers, due to it’s good articles
or reviews
It’s genuinely very difficult in this busy life to listen news
on TV, thus I only use internet for that reason, and get the most recent news.
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude!
Thanks, However I am experiencing issues with
your RSS. I don’t know the reason why I am unable to subscribe to it.
Is there anybody else having similar RSS problems?
Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
Great post. Thank you for sharing.
this is a great website
When I initially commented I seem to have clicked on the
-Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every
time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment.
Is there a way you are able to remove me from that service?
Many thanks!