Paralanguage, as Ting-Toomey defines it, refers to the sounds and tones used in conversation and the speech behavior that accompanies that message.[1] A particular example Ting-Toomey gives concerning different cultural applications of paralanguage is the understanding of raising one’s voice in conversation. The authors list the tendency of some to interpret the raising of one’s voice to reflect an expression of anger; others raise their voices to enhance the emotional dimension of a point made in a conversation.[2] Based on the list of paralinguistic elements that Ting-Toomey provides, the most common elements adjusted when raising one’s voice are pitch intensity and volume. [3] Raising one’s voice is done through a combined increase of pitch intensity and volume, but a change to rate of speech and/or articulation often accompanies the initial increases. An easy way to differentiate anger and emphasis in a raised voice is by observing the change to rate of speech and articulation. For example, when someone is overcome by anger, they may tend to speak more quickly and slur their words if they are losing themselves in the emotion. However, if someone is excited, they may slow their speech and more intentionally articulate their words in order to clearly punctuate a point they are making.
As a loud and easily excitable person, I stand quite grateful for the discussion of this particular element of paralinguistics. I am a sort of cheerleader by nature, and I offer encouragement and support more loudly and boldly than anyone else I know. Should I find myself interacting with people that I do not know, I should be quite conscious of the cultural background of those people before unleashing the full depth and breadth of my voice to encourage or support someone. However, I do find myself quite at home with other loud, energetic people, easily able to get a laugh from them because of our similar communication styles. In some cases, it can be quite beneficial for me to maintain my normal communication style, but in other cases, I can alienate or overwhelm people who communicate quietly. Livermore cautions people who will be interacting with other cultures to be aware of how they communicate for the above reason. Similarity in communication styles can build a rapport or closeness, but the excessive changing of oneself to make a good impression or connection with someone else is not culturally intelligent at all.[4] I typically lower my voice when speaking to someone that I have observed to be quiet, but I always remain louder than they are because of my native communication style. This is something I will be able to practice more consciously after this course. Part of my job is providing ongoing coaching and feedback for our new hires within their first 90 days, and the woman I will be coaching in the next few months is an old friend and ministry partner, but she is a rather quiet individual. Awareness of my speaking volume and intensity will allow me to communicate with her more effectively as I tailor my vocal patterns to match her preferred level of communication.
Bibliography
Livermore, David, Soon Ang, and Linn Van Dyne. Leading with Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: The Real Secret to Success. AMACOM, 2019.
Ting-Toomey, Stella. Understanding Intercultural Communication. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012.
[1] Stella Ting-Toomey, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012), 137.
[2] Ibid., 138.
[3] Ibid., 137.
[4] David Livermore and Soon Ang and Linn Van Dyne, Leading with Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: The Real Secret to Success (AMACOM, 2019), 178.
