Chapter 3

Voice and Diction

Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to

you, trippingly on the tongue.
-from Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Vocabulary:
Quality:
Pitch:
Volume:
Schwa:
Pronunciation:
Resonance:
Inflection:
Rate:
Voiceless:
Nasality:
Monotone:
Diction:
Voiced:
Focus Questions:
1. What are the keys to a good speaking voice?
2. Why is breath control so important?
3. How can you develop a rich, strong, and interesting stage voice?