Language in Use 73-74
This unit is concerned with the fact that many of our judgements about the
way people speak are not a matter of language at all. They are a consequence
of our response to all those physical features which go to make up the uniqueness
of a pat pitch, colour, or roughness and smoothness, are together called indexical
features. Its aim is to show that it is the unique combination of indexical
features in an individual's voice which enables us to identify him immcdiately
by voice alone. This unit makes use of section A of the Language in Use
tape that contains a series of brief extracts from the speech of a wide variety
of men, women and children.
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[1] The aim of this session is to get the class to focus upon the physical characteristics of many different voices. Play the tape to the class and warn them that they will be asked to say how many different voices they heard, how many were men, how many women, and how many children. Collect the answers on the board then play the tape again, this time asking them to note down anything that they think the voices reveal about the speakers. In discussion, consider these responses and build up on the board a picture of what the class feels about each voice on the tape.
[2] The aim of this session is to show that we make two kinds of response
to an unknown voice, but that we often fail to distinguish what features are
our basis for which response. The class need to have their notes from session
[ 1 ] in front of them. Play the tape again, this time voice by voice,
and, after each, ask the class to write down answers to two sets of questions:
firstly, the age, sex, occupation, physical and emotional state of the speakers;
secondly, how they would describe the voice, high/low, dark/light, harsh/smooth,
and so on. In the ensuing discussion, build up a picture on the board of the
class's answers to these and then explore the relationship.
Points to consider include:
(a) whether or not there is a strong tendency to correlate voice colour with
emotional state: e.g. all rough or
harsh-toned voices tend to be regarded as disagreeable or
angry
(b) what links emerge between voice quality, age and sex.
The discussion should go on to explore the sources for the class's judgements of indexical features. In particular, how is it that they are ready to label some voices 'pleasant' and others 'unpleasant' when all they have heard is the voice?