ELEMENTS OF VOCAL EXPRESSION.
There are four generic vocal elements of elocution, namely. Quality, Force, Time and Pitch, all of which are embodied in every utterance, while, in turn, every shade of human expression may be traced in its various sub divisions and combinations. A tabular view of the vocal elements is given on p. 26Z I. Quality.—Quality is the tone-color or kind of voice, the purity or impurity of the tone, and is dependent upon the size, shape and physical condition of the vocal organs and cav ities. Broadly speaking it is an emotive ele ment which strbdivides into eight varieties, each having a definite correspondence to man's triune nature. Each quality is determined by its resonance, which Helmholtz defines as uthe strengthening or reinforcing of sound)) in the cavities of the head, throat and chest. By changing these resOnances at will the speaker can employ the qualities to express his various moods and emotions.
(1) Normal.— The normal is the ordinary, predominant, characteristic quality of voice peculiar to each individual. Its resonance is in the upper and bacic part of the mouth, and the tone should be pure. By this quality we recognize the voices of different persons. It belongs to the mental division and is the natural expression of our ordinary thoughts, such as solernnity, tranquillity, mild pathos, conversa tion, didactic thought, gladness, and joy.
(2) Orotund.—The orotund is a strong, clear, deep, voluminous quality, the resonance of which is in the upper part of the thoracic cavity. It represents about equally the mental and vital natures and is used to express thoughts and emotions of a lofty nature, such as reverence, sublimity, . grandeur, courag% patriotism and oratorical intensity.
(3) Oral.— The oral is a thin, feeble, shal low quality with the resonance in the forward part of the mouth. It is the physical result of a low state of inherent or exerted vitality and logically belongs to the vital division. It is generally used by a speaker in a personative sense to express sickness, feebleness, idiocy, timidity and fatigue.
(4) Nasal.— The nasal is an impure twang ing, head-tone with the resonance in the front nasal cavities. It represents a vital condition and belongs to that division. As an habitual quality it is a grave defect in a speaker. Under control of the will it may be used in an imper sonative way to express laziness, mockery, burlesque or drollery; and in more serious thought, it is often employed to give pungency to irony, insinuation or contempt.
(5) Falsetto.— The falsetto is a pure, shrill, penetrating quality ranging above the ordinary pitch. Its resonance is in the upper part of the pharynx and it belongs to the vital division. Its use shows a lack of physical poise and ex presses great excitement, fright, yelling, scream ing, calling, etc.
(6) Guttural.— The guttural is a harsh, grating, impure quality the resonance of which is in the upper part of the throat. It repre sents a vital condition under a strong emotion and belongs about equally to the vital and emo tive natures. It is used to express the malig nant passions such as malice, scorn, anger, revenge, violent hate and rage.
(7) Pectoral.— The pectoral is a hollow, hoarse, sepulchral quality with the resonance in the lower part of the chest. It is emotive in nature and is never used except under the influence of the deepest emotions such as ven eration, dread, amazement or horror.
(8) Aspirate.— The aspirate is a hissing, breathy, whispered quality in which intensity of emotion forces out more breath than can be vocalized. It belongs to the emotive divi sion. The resonance varies according to the position of the organs and resonant cavities; and its use ranges from the gentlest whisper of secrecy or caution to the intense, half-whispered emotions of fear, terror or consternation.
II. Force is the power or energy with which sound waves are sent forth from the vocal organs. Figuratively speaking, it is the exploding powder back of the projectile and clearly represents the vital nature in speech. It has three divisions.