What is prosody?

Prosody is the part of grammar that encompasses intonation, stress, speed, and rhythm. It conveys emotional, sociolinguistic, and dialectal information.When delivering an utterance, not only are sounds articulated one after another, but other aspects such as speed, intonation, and rhythm are also modified according to the communicative intent.

The various prosodic features significantly contribute to the meaning of utterances, and by altering only the prosody, the same utterance can take on different meanings. Prosodic alterations have major repercussions on social interaction and can greatly disrupt communication.

Voice professionals must know how to play with these elements during their performances, adapting them to the emotional aspects they wish to convey, beyond the literal language itself.Mastering prosodic aspects is a very important — if not essential — skill for voice professionals who need to interpret different characters.

Let's now analyze the three main features of prosody:

• Speed: It identifies the number of words spoken per minute, organizing them into larger segments (phrases). The words or sounds are combined to be expressed within a short time frame so that the listener can immediately comprehend them.

• Intonation: It reflects the tone of the voice during speech, avoiding monotony and adjusting according to different types of utterances (exclamations, questions, etc.). Intonation also shifts to emphasize specific words.

• Rhythm: It is essentially made up of the repetition of a pattern and is crucial for the perception of events over time.Each language has its own rhythmic tendencies, which define its particular identity. Rhythmic differences also serve a communicative function in expressing the emotional component of language.

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Valentina Carlile - Osteopath specializing in Osteopathy for Voice and Speech Disorders since 2002. For information and bookings, visit the Contact page.

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