Vocal characteristics used to communicate nonverbal messages are known as vocalics. When you interact with others, you typically think of their voice as one thing—for example, shrill, loud, deep, or nasal—but voices are actually made up of several characteristics. The four qualities of voice—tone, pitch, loudness, and speech rate—create distinct impressions for listeners in any interaction.

Tone.Tone stems from the resonance and breathiness of your voice. You can create a rich vocal tone—conveying authority and confidence—by allowing your voice to resonate deep in your chest and throat. Alternatively, restricting your voice to your sinus cavity (“talking through your nose”) creates a whiny tone—often judged as unpleasant. How much you breathe while speaking also affects tone. If you expel a great deal of air when speaking, you convey sexiness. If you constrict airflow when speaking, you create a thin, hard tone, which may communicate nervousness or anxiety.

Pitch.Pitch is the frequency range of your voice—how high or low it is. People tend to associate lower pitches with strength and competence, and higher pitches with weakness (Spender, 1990).

Loudness.Loudness is the volume of your voice. You can increase loudness to emphasize certain words, phrases, or points. When texting, tweeting, or posting online, people indicate loudness (i.e., shouting or yelling) with CAPITAL LETTERS.

Speech Rate.Speech rate is how quickly you speak. Although it is commonly believed that talking at a moderate and steady rate is the best choice, research shows that speaking fast or slow by itself doesn’t seem to determine speech effectiveness (Krause, 2001). Instead, it’s whether you correctly pronounce and clearly articulate your words. Keep this in mind if you are making a public speech; if you’re a fast talker, take care not to slur or blur your words.