How you talk and the way you sound matters, like, you know, a whole lot. Really.
Our speech patterns, accents and word choices make a strong first impression. It influences the way people think about somebody when they know absolutely nothing about them.
If you spend a lot of time around gay men, black women or drag queens, chances are you'll greet them with a -- hey girl!
Many young male actors coming to Hollywood, some of them gay, some of them not, secretly hire speech coaches to train their voices to sound more sexual orientation neutral, so they can pass better and take on leading man roles.
It’s very common for business people from other countries take speech classes to help them communicate more clearly.
The way we talk has a lot to do with not just where we come from, but who we surround ourselves with. Are you a fraud then if you change the way you speak?
Today we’re joined by speech pathologist and video blogger Jennifer Tarle to take a closer look at the way we talk, and what we can do to speak more clearly to connect better with others.
Why does everyone today sound like, you know, um, Valley Girls from the late 80s?
The biologial and social origins of the way gay men talk.
Transgender vocal warm ups.
The strange Pittsburgh Accent.
Mike Tyson’s butch lisp.
And all those quirky ways Fausto pronounces words as a bilingual speaker from his native Puerto Rico.
FOF #1550 – This is the Voice I Want to Use – 03.26.12
Happy Sharon Needles Day!
FOFA #1529 – Hitting the Mainline with Sharon Needles – 03.09.12
4 Comments
Comments
i thought ‘rifting’ is when Americans song a la vocal gymnastics
Speaking for myself (ummm….) my Junior and High School years were spent trying to pass (i.e. watch and “act” like straight guys in my school, whether it was sitting, walking or talking). So coming out was, indeed, a process of de-programming for me, feeling more comfortable about myself, and signifying that acceptance with my “natural” talk and walk.
I have a feminine voice, I have pitch “issues” and, sometimes, sit on my foot, cross my legs and have been known to delicately pick up a wine-glass here and there. It’s been a hell of a ride, but one where (ultimately) I feel as good as I look – walk – talk – and gesture.
now let’s have a KiKi … *mwah*