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Voice may be said as the index of the mind. The old adage ‘face is the index of the mind� doesn’t hold good now a days. Cosmetic surgery has made inroads into the original structure of the face of man. But human voice by far reveals the age, sex, mood, health and his nativity.

Voice culture is gaining importance in modern times as it occupies a major role in communication skills. In oral articulation voice is the prime vehicle. While talking “direct to a person, in conversation or talking through telephone or giving a speech through public address system, our voice should be trained to the required purpose.

What is Voice Culture is the essential question we have to address ourselves. To put it simply, voice culture is training the innate or original voice giving it the touch of self effort of improving it. We have our natural voice. But in modem times we have to give training which is to be called culture. One may ask ‘What’s there to improve our original voice? Where’s the need for voice culture?� Let’s answer these questions.

We have people with feeble voice, some have hoarse voice, some have indistinct and lisping voice with speech impediments. If we understand the physiological aspect of a speech, we have to know that our vocal cords, tongue, lips, soft palate, jaw, teeth ridge play a major role on our voice or speech.

But our mind or emotions play a greater role influencing our voice. When one is in extreme pleasure with great surprise, the voice comes out loud; in sorrow or sickness the voice is feeble, in anger the sound reaches a high pitch, in nervousness the speech becomes ‘muttering�. These different states of mind produce different types of voices in our communication.

The question is where’s the need? Yes, there is. The primitive man’s fig leaf has evolved into the modern jeans. The hair styles and footwear designs are being changed from time to time. The answer is, as man is evolving in several ways, his voice too is to be trained or culture a suited to the civilized world. The farmer shouts to his counterpart at a distance in a loud volume. But in a city, a person has to speak with a low voice to be called a cultured person. One is called a boor if one talks in a loud voice in the cities, or airports, or airplanes. Here the voice becomes the barometer of one’s culture as revealed. In trains and buses we find passengers talking with high pitched voice though they sit close to each other. This practise is a painful experience to fellow passengers. English men often speak in hushed voice as though whispering a secret. Of course, sorry to say, most of our Indians bawl out to others. And this is a case for-improving our voice culture.

I once asked my London trained English lecturer why he speaks in such a low tone. He said he was trained by his British mentors for long and he too remained in that way. Yes. In super star hotels, super specialty hospitals, in airplanes the first aspect of �Volume control� in voice culture acquires significance. Our voice should be neither high nor low but of the required pitch.

While cautioning about high volume of voice, we have to be careful about the other extremity, feebleness in voice. We hear some people talking on phone not heard properly by the person at the other end. The defect lies in his low voice. And the other person is forced to say ‘Excuse me, would you speak a little louder?� Here low voice creates the problem.

In the interviews the candidates reply to the questions in a low voice. This may be due to the nervousness on the part of the job seeker. Through voice culture he has to be trained to raise his voice to a particular level to be selected as a successful candidate for his self-confidence. In interviews, voice should carry a note of confidence. In speech, or oral articulation we should sound distinct to the other party. It is a matter of tone as pronunciation.
In the selection of posts for a Business Manager, for a college teacher, a reception officer, a personal secretary or even, say a priest for the pulpit, or a purohit to chant hymns or Mantras, a person with distinct voice is always preferred to others. Here voice culture plays a pivotal role.

It is the habit of some people to speak too quickly. This causes difficulty to others to understand the point. Sometimes such speakers labour under the false notion that it would come under fluency in talking. Alas! this is but a misnomer. All distinguished speakers, statesmen, interviewers, or TV anchors use their voice with words in slow pace and well­timed pauses. They never reel out their words as in a torrent.

We should also consider voice tuned to distinctive and controlled pace or speed with pauses brought in. We should also consider the aspect of an emotional ring in the voice. While conversing on phone, while greeting others in social circles, while making a polite request to others for help, our voice should be blended with a pleasant and happy note. When on phone you have to make a request to extend a favour to another person, your voice should be tuned or cultured to make the request ‘Excuse me, could I contact Mr. Prasad by any chance, I would be on the line� or “Excuse me is that 222817 please�. If it is at a dinner table, “Would you pass on the salt dish?� On the railway platform “Excuse me, is this the train leaving for Machilipatnam?� Words should ooze politeness when we utter them.

Voice culture exhorts you to modulate your voice bringing politeness in your requests. Our voice should not be stale and bland but should carry the human ring, of love, respect humility and politeness.

Next comes our way of extending greetings to others. For example when we say ‘Good Morning� it is stale and technical. And when we want to show our warmth say “Good Morning� with the required tone and musical cadence. When you are helped and when we generally say ‘Thank you�. It is but mechanical expression. But when you respond with a ring of gratitude and say ‘Thank you� with a human ring. Even the oft used expression “Excuse me� if a person blocks your way you have to say in a low voice ‘Excuse me� splitting the word excuse into two syllables.

Resonance in our voice: Our voice is our nearest and best vehicle in our communication. It should be considered as a precious gift of nature. In the beginning it may be a crude diamond but it should be cut and polished. Resonance in voice or controlled voice is called modulation and it is a must in plays and film dialogues.

Voice culture in telephone talks: People think that to talk in a telephone is the easiest thing. But it is not. Several times we hear a voice which is indistinct, lisping and too speedy and the listener is forced to request the party to repeat. Cell phone numbers are given very quickly giving no time to the listener to record the numbers. The fundamental principle of voice culture is when we speak the listener should understand our message without any ambiguity. If we are irritated, we should gain control over our temper and speak with a cultured tone hiding our temper. When a happy news is heard through phone our voice should be tuned expressing joy and pleasantness.

Finally let us consider the steps to be taken to improve voice culture as a tool for communication.

1. One has to listen to the AIR and BBC broadcasts.
2. Interviews, talk shows are to be followed carefully.
3. One has to avoid eating or drinking substances that affect our voice.

In conclusion, let me convey one instance from our epic Ramayana that voice culture is not new to India. Anjeneya was sent by Sugriva, his king, to Rama and Lakshmana bearing bows and arrows as an ambassador. ­And Anjaneya spoke with great lucidity and in a cultured way about the loving hand extended by Sugriva on mutual help basis. Sri Rama was impressed by his style of communication involving voice culture, diction etc., He called his brother closer and said “Lakshmana! See! how chaste he speaks. The master who employs him would be successful in all his attempts� (hinting the future events to come about.) The voice and communication skill were thus given significance even in the days of Ramayana.

The Vedic hymn at the initiation ceremony of giving solid food to the child called �Anna Prasana� states ‘Madhu Vagbhava�. Let your speech be sweet. Voice culture aims at it.
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            I asked a student “Who is the greater of the two, mother or teacher?� The expected answer is ‘mother�. But he said ‘teacher�. In surprise I asked him ‘Why�. His answer was “A mother can send to sleep one child at a time, but the teacher can send to sleep hundred children at a time.�

            No wonder. The British government is sending its teachers for voice training.
-Editor