Articulate Voice : Introduction To Voice And Diction - 4th edition

Summary: Taps into the most current research to clearly and concisely deliver the basics on voice production and techniques for improving pitch, rate, volume, and quality.

One reviewer praised, "This is a rare find in comparison to other voice and diction textbooks." Another calls The Articulate Voice "a model of clarity and concision."

Features

• As opposed to text ...show mores geared more specifically toward the stage, speech, and ESL students, this text serves as a guide for all students studying or needing guidance in voice and diction.
• "Try This" drills at the end of each chapter give readers a chance to test out speech exercises and help them easily integrate information into everyday communication.
• The text specifies appropriate production of American English phonemes. Sound recognition practice materials in Chapters 9 and 10 and at the back of the book give students and instructors a tool for assessing each student's use of phonemes.
• The flexible arrangement of content enables professors to assign chapters in any order.
• Numerous exercises and materials are integrated throughout to teach learning by doing and to teach students why voice improvement is vital to "real-life" issues, such as presenting a positive business or personal image.
• "Focus Message" sections, geared toward ESL, broadcasting, and acting students, appear at the end of each chapter and give special reading audiences goal-directed techniques and tips.
• The jargon-free text not only describes voice production, but it also explains its companion component: hearing.

• A comprehensive section on stage fright and its impact in vocal performance has been added at the request of professors (Ch. 1).
• An expanded section on vocal health now includes coverage on maintaining a healthy voice and dealing with vocal abuse (Ch. 2).
• Chapters have been reordered to present language information early, based on reviewer feedback.
• Pronunciation keys identify chapter terminology to enhance student understanding of the key topics of the chapter.
• A list of commonly mispronounced words (Appendix 2) and a vocabulary builder list (Appendix 3) have been added to assist students in learning diction.

Edition/Copyright: 4TH 04
Cover: Paperback
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
Published: 03/17/2003

View Author Bio

Wells, Lynn K. : Saddleback College

View Table of Contents

1. An Introduction.

Communication: A Discussion.
Influences on Your Voice and Speech.
Improving Your Voice.

2. Mechanisms for Speech.

Breathing.
Phonation.
Resonation.
Articulation

3. Language.

Language Defined.
History of English.
Language Development in the Individual.

4. Pitch.

Inflection: The Paralinguistics of Pitch.
Intonation.
Extralinguistic Features.
Pitch Variety.

5. Volume.

The Paralinguistic Factors of Loudness.
Syllabic Stress.
Projection.
Variation.

6. Rate/Duration.

Speaking/Reading Rate.
Pause.
Speech Phrasing.
Variety.
Rate Assessments.

7. Quality.

Paralinguistics.
Extralinguistics.

8. Articulation.

Definitions.
Coarticulation.
Individual Differences/Dialects.
Program for Improvement.

9. Vowels.

Approach to Vowel Study.
Front Vowels.
Back Vowels.
Mid Vowels.
Diphthongs.
Special Diphthong.
Additional Drill.

10. Consonants.

Approach to Consonant Study.
Bilabial Consonants.
Labio-Dental Consonants.
Lingua-Dental Consonants.
Lingua-Alveolar Consonants.
Lingua-Palatal Consonants.
Velar Consonants.
Glottal Consonants.
Additional Drill.
A Final Word.

Appendix 1. IPA Pronunciation Guides.
Appendix 2. 100 Commonly Mispronounced Words.
Appendix 3. Vocabulary Builders.
Appendix 4. Sound Recognition Practice.
Appendix 5. Evaluation Forms.
Glossary.
Index.