How Does Speech Relate to Singing?
Speech and singing are two forms of vocal communication that have similarities in their physiological processes and components. Both involve the use of articulation to form specific sounds, as well as intonation (pitch) and expressiveness to convey emotion or meaning.
The similarities between speech and singing enable speakers to improve their vocal performances by developing their ability to articulate words clearly and expressively. Additionally, understanding the relationship between speech and singing can help you better express emotions in your performances and presentations in a more remarkable way.
In this article, we'll take a look at how speech relates to singing. To further understand the topic, we'll talk about the similarities between the two vocal forms, discuss how understanding the connection between them can help both singers and speakers improve their performances, and provide some tips for working on your speech-singing relationship through examples.
Key Takeaways
- The human voice is a creative way of self-expression that can be used through singing and speaking
- Speech and singing share similarities and differences
- Cross-training helps vocal performers improve both their speaking and singing skills
Table of Contents
- The Physiology of Speech and Singing
- Articulation and Phonetics
- Intonation and Melody
- Breath Control and Support
- Interpretation and Expression
- Training and Development
- Explore and Enhance Your Vocal Instrument Today
The Physiology of Speech and Singing
Speech and singing are closely related, as both involve the use of articulation to form specific sounds and intonation to convey emotion or meaning. The process of speaking and singing involves breath support, laryngeal control, vocal fold tension, and oral cavity shape to produce sound.
In terms of breath support, singers and speakers use their diaphragms to control the amount of air expelled with each note or word. Laryngeal control, or the ability to manipulate the pitch and volume of a note, is also essential for speech and singing. Vocal fold tension is used to alter the acoustics of a sound, affecting its timbre (tone color) and dynamic range. Finally, oral cavity shape determines which frequencies are amplified—which can influence how a word or phrase is articulated or perceived.
However, the two also possess differences. With everyday speaking, any sound that the human voice can make is generally acceptable. There may be regional variations in dialects, such as pronunciation or intonation. Still, generally speaking, there are no specific rules about how to use one's voice in casual settings.
Meanwhile, when it comes to singing, the vocal techniques must be specifically trained and controlled to produce a pleasing sound. It also requires more controlled and precise vocal techniques than everyday speech. This includes learning how to control one's breath support, pitch, and intonation to create a desired sound.
Additionally, singing has a higher average intensity level and a more comprehensive range of intensities than speaking. On the other hand, everyday speech often occurs within a smaller frequency range and at lower frequency levels than singing.
How the Vocal Apparatus is Used in Both Speech and Singing
The vocal apparatus—the voice box or larynx, nose, mouth, and throat—is the intricate system through which air is converted to sound and sound into emotions. These parts are used in both speech and singing.
The larynx is the primary source of sound production for both; it houses a set of muscular cords known as the vocal folds, which vibrate when air passes through them. This vibration produces sound waves, which are then amplified by the length and shape of the throat and nasal cavities.
The mouth is also an important part of vocal production. In speech, the lips, teeth, tongue, and jaw are used to form articulation—the way in which different sounds combine to form words or phrases. These articulators help shape and resonate the sound created by the vocal cords to produce distinct tones and pitches.
The similarities between speech and singing make it possible for singers and speakers to improve their vocal and speaking performances. Both apply using the voice to express feelings, ideas, and stories. While singing involves making melodic sounds, speech is used to articulate words with clarity and expression. This means that when singers focus on saying words clearly in their speaking voice, they can then apply this skill to their singing. Moreover, knowing how you can improve and connect your speech and singing can help you perform more naturally.
Articulation and Phonetics
Articulation is the physical movement of the vocal organs to produce speech sounds. It is integral to speaking and singing because it helps create intelligible words and phrases.
In speech, articulation involves using the lips, teeth, tongue, and jaw to form specific sounds. Proper articulation ensures that words and sounds are pronounced accurately and understood by the audience. In singing, it plays a slightly different role in that it helps shape the sound created by the vocal cords. For instance, singers use vowels or consonants to create a desired sound or effect. Additionally, how the singer articulates words can help convey the emotion of a song, adding an extra layer of expression.
Phonetics is another crucial aspect of singing and speaking. It refers to the study of speech sounds and how they are produced in various languages. It helps singers develop precise diction and pronunciation, enabling them to effectively communicate the meaning of lyrics while singing. At the same time, this knowledge can be used to learn how to correctly form sounds and achieve a desired vocal effect. By understanding the basics of phonetics, singers and public speakers can become more aware of their vocal abilities and better articulate words in their singing and speaking voices.
Intonation and Melody
Intonation is the pitch and emphasis of a speaker's voice as they communicate. It plays an essential role in expressing emotion and can be used to emphasize certain words or phrases. It allows you to share how you feel or think about something and provides the grammatical information needed to tell a statement from a question. Additionally, it adds new channels via which you can express your feelings and mental state. Intonation also helps create a sense of rhythm and flow within speech, making it more engaging to listeners.
Speaking melodically has benefits for speakers like you as well. Melody refers to the rhythmic patterns in music or speech. It is a combination of your low-frequency and high-frequency fluctuation and your slow-to-fast and volume variation. It is what makes a song or speech memorable and captivating. While singers use melody to convey emotion, express their ideas, and tell stories through their singing, speakers use it when speaking to create an engaging and intriguing atmosphere for the listener. Melody can also help speakers emphasize certain words or phrases in their speech and add another layer of emotion and expression to their performance.
Breath Control and Support
We often overlook breathing as we do it naturally. Our diaphragm contracts and expands when we breathe, filling our lungs with air. This dome-shaped muscle divides the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. This contraction and expansion of our diaphragm make it possible for us to breathe.
While the process seems effortless, one of the most crucial parts of speaking is actually breath control. It enables you to reach certain notes, create a strong sound, safeguard your voice, and create a pleasing and distinct speaking tone.
Speech requires proper breath control to project the voice effectively, achieve a consistent vocal tone, and sustain long phrases. This activity helps you maintain steady airflow, control dynamics, and modulate the tone of your voice. It also enables you to project your voice clearly and maintain vocal stamina during extended periods of speaking. Correct breathing techniques can enhance vocal performance by providing a foundation for expressive public speaking. Working with a voice teacher can help ensure you're doing these techniques correctly.
Practicing techniques help you control and support your breathing. Doing it correctly can help you with the following:
- Maintain Steady Airflow. Incorporating helpful breathing techniques allows you to have better control of your voice. It also helps you sustain a long phrase.
- Control Dynamics. Correct breathing techniques enable you to use dynamics effectively and add emotion to your speaking.
- Modulate Your Voice Tone. Both singers and speakers need to be able to modulate their voice tone. You can enhance the emotional impact of a speech with proper breath control.
- Project Voice Clearly. The clarity of your voice ensures that it is heard. Not only will this help make your speech or singing sound better, but it will also help increase the impact of what you are saying.
- Sustain Vocal Stamina. The proper breath support will ensure that your voice does not tire out quickly, and you can finish your piece without strain on your vocal cords. Therefore, you maintain vocal stamina during long periods of speaking.
Interpretation and Expression
Interpretation and expression are equally important when it comes to speaking. Through these factors, speakers can communicate the speech's language accurately and effectively. It is done through body language, facial expressions, intonation, and timing. Similarly, expression involves conveying meaning and emotion through words, phrasing, dynamics (volume), and articulation.
Different vocal techniques can convey emotions, intentions, and the overall message of spoken words. The following include:
- Tones. Influential singers and speakers use different tones to express emotion and create a sense of atmosphere. Varying them through the use of low, medium, or high tones can convey an emotional response.
- Volume Levels. The use of volume levels can help better emphasize a word or phrase. They can also vary their tone to create suspense or a sense of drama.
- Intonation and Rhythm. Using intonation and rhythm is essential when speaking (or singing). This helps convey the emotions associated with the words being used and provides structure to the speech.
- Vocal Inflections. Vocal inflections make subtle pitch, tone, and volume changes to emphasize certain words or phrases. They help to create interest and keep the listener engaged. They also give a more personal touch to the speech.
The human voice is arguably the most beautiful and creative means of self-expression since this natural instrument is a part of our human body. It involves pitch, loudness, length, timbre, and all other ways we use our speech and music to interact with our listeners. We may even see how the two complement and enhance one another in spoken songs or dramatic performances.
For instance, the relationship between speech and singing in theatrical productions or spoken songs is complex. On the one hand, spoken dialogue is used to tell a story and to advance the plot. On the other hand, sung passages convey the characters' emotions and can be used as a form of expression. When these two elements are skillfully combined, they create a powerful combination that adds depth, power, and meaning to the performance.
Training and Development
Professional vocal training involves a combination of speech and singing techniques in order to help performers develop proper vocal control, breath support, articulation, and expressive abilities. Speech techniques help performers refine their diction, projection, and intonation to communicate more clearly and precisely. They can also incorporate some singing techniques that enable performers to use their voices as musical instruments, allowing them to execute vocal runs, sustain long notes, and jump between register changes with ease.
Cross-training is popular among vocal performers as it helps them develop their speech and singing abilities. It also helps them become more versatile, an essential skill in the performing arts. It improves vocal expressiveness overall and the artists' capacity to easily switch between speaking and singing. As a result, you create a more cohesive, durable vocal instrument and create a continuum between speech and singing.
So, what can you do to train and develop your voice? Here are some activities that you can practice:
Vocal Warm-up Exercises
Plenty of vocal warm-up exercises will help you develop your vocal range, strengthen your diaphragm, and increase your breath control. They also help you to loosen up your throat muscles and prevent strain.
You can start training using the yawn-sigh technique, where you yawn to inhale air while keeping your mouth shut, then let out a sigh-like exhalation via your nose. You can also explore the vocal sirens exercise. Like an emergency vehicle siren, you make an "oooh" sound that progressively ascends from the lowest note in your range to the highest and then descends.
Breath Control Exercises
Breath control exercises help increase vocal endurance, improve vocal power and resonance, and ensure clarity of pronunciation. They are effective in improving your speech. You can start with the windmill exercise, which involves slowly inhaling to fill your lungs with air while moving your arms in a broad circular motion as if you were to draw a large circle with your hands. This helps to ensure that you are taking in enough oxygen and using it efficiently for optimal vocal performance.
Another exercise is the "hissing" exercise, where you take a deep breath and slowly hiss out the air between your teeth, making very minimal sound. This helps to develop your breath control as you can sustain the hissing for extended periods as you gain better control over your breath.
Study of Vocal Repertoire
The study of vocal repertoire is an essential part of training for both speech and singing. It involves learning and mastering various songs and monologues to improve vocal technique, develop expressive capabilities, and express emotions. A solid vocal repertoire can help performers captivate their audience with a wide range of material they are comfortable and confident with.
Explore and Enhance Your Vocal Instrument Today
Speech and singing are intertwined. The former is used to tell a story or convey dialogue. At the same time, the latter helps to express the characters' emotions in the story. However, the two are closely related in physiology, articulation, intonation, and expression.
It may seem like the two are entirely different arts, but they have much in common. Both utilize the same vocal apparatus, meaning that many of the same techniques can be applied to both forms of expression. Good speech requires good breath support, correct vowel formation, proper diction, and clear enunciation. Likewise, these concepts are also essential in singing for the most effective sound production.
By understanding the relationship between speech and singing, you can improve your overall vocal abilities, expand your artistic range, and effectively communicate through the power of the human voice. Therefore, to be a confident and compelling speaker, you must first find the music in your voice.
While self-study can be productive and convenient, consider working with a voice teacher to guide you on how to effectively bring all of these concepts and techniques together and help you find your greatest voice.
