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As an effective interpersonal communicator, you regulate volume in an effort to promote
meaningful interaction. Your volume should reflect the nature of your message, the size and

acoustics of the space you are in, your proximity to the other person, and any competing noise
or conversations.

Typically, we increase volume to stress particular words and ideas and to reflect the

intensity of our emotions. Similarly, a sudden decrease in volume can add suspense or sustain
another‟s attention. Volume that is varied is most effective.

3.6.1.2. TONE OF VOICE

Tone of voice is the manner in which a verbal statement is presented, including its

rhythm, breathiness, hoarseness, or loudness. It reflects psychological arousal, emotion, and
mood. It may also carry social information, as in a sarcastic, superior, or submissive manner of
speaking.

Our vocalizations, both while speaking and apart from speech, reflect three basic sound
modes, as in using a low-pitched, low and loud, or high-pitched voice to argue a discussion
point (Givens, 1999).

Tone of voice is an important means of emotional expression. According to Argyle

(1992), the pattern of the pitch of an utterance „frames‟ it as suspicious and hostile, funny,
sarcastic, serious, and so on; a clear example is the rise in pitch at the end of a question.

Stress can be placed on particular words to emphasize them or to indicate which of

several possible meanings is intended; for instance, „I am selected to the football team‟ will
change in meaning depending on which word the emphasis is put on.

A significant number of voice qualities are universal across all human cultures, though

they are also subject to cultural modification and shaping. Across the globe, adults use higher
pitched voices to speak to infants and young children. The softer pitch is innately „friendly‟ and

suggests a non-aggressive, non-hostile pose.

With each other, men and women use higher pitched voices in greetings, to show
harmlessness and to invite physical closeness. In almost every language speakers use a rising

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