Your Voice Speaks Volumes: It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It

by Jane Setter

Why do we speak the way we do, and what do our voices tell others about us? What is the truth behind the myths that surround how we speak? Jane Setter explores these and other fascinating questions in this engaging introduction to the power and the science of the voice.

The book first takes us on a tour of the sounds in our language and how we produce them, as well as how and why those sounds vary in different varieties of English. The origins of our vast range of accents are explained, along with the prejudices associated with why do we feel such loyalty to our own accent, and what's behind our attitudes to others? We learn that much of what we believe about how we speak may not be is it really the case, for instance, that only young people use 'uptalk', or that only women use vocal fry? Our voices can also be used as criminal evidence, and to help us wear different social and professional hats. Throughout the book, Professor Setter draws on examples from the media and from her own professional and personal experience, from her work on the provenance of the terrorist 'Jihadi John' to why the Rolling Stones sounded American.

Genres: Nonfiction, Linguistics, Language

236 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Petra]

I think this book is best read if you don't already study English at uni. I really don't have anything bad to say about it. I just didn't care for it considering I already went through most of the content in my courses.

[Biblio Files (takingadayoff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books on language, but after you've read a few dozen, you have a good grip on the foundations such as language change and accent and dialect and slang and spelling. So it's fun to read something that puts a different spin on the topic, something that takes you a bit deeper into a certain aspect of language. Your Voice Speaks Volumes does that with the voice, going beyond pronunciation and accent into rarely covered (at least in books for non linguists) issues such as why some people sound like they're American when they sing or if people can be positively identified by their voice and speech patterns. I found that the book seems to raise more questions that it provides answers, but that is only because these are topics that are multi layered and usually about more than just language. For instance, when transgender people learn to speak in a differently gendered way, there's more to consider than just word choice or inflection. Pitch and breathiness and volume and how wide you open your mouth etc etc all go into it, and it's the same for almost every topic involving language. That's language for you -- it's complicated!

[Thuhuynh1794 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a very formative and insightful book about how voice is a important part of your identity. Similar to many characters in the book, I don’t really like my voice. I’ve always wished it to be a bit stronger, thicker, and deeper. I think it’s too feminine, too sweet, too soft. Many a time I was not taken seriously by my friends and my students because of my voice. I do try to change my voice but it’s easier said than done, or in this case, not even “easy said”. The book also got me thinking about how English is perceived around the world and whether as non-native speakers we should be contented with our way of speaking or strive to adopt a more native-like accent.
As a whole, I had a great time reading this book!!!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and accessible overview of several aspects of cultural perceptions of spoken English.