Vocal Upward Inflection and the Staircase MetHOD
by Robert Gordon, Esq., Coach & Facilitator
Ever heard someone make a statement like this — where the content is declarative but the way it is spoken makes it sound like a question? Upward inflection of pitch (sometimes referred to as a "sing-song” voice, upspeak, or high-rising intonation) in the middle or end of phrases in Standard American English can be interpreted as uncertainty or can cause confuse listeners because they are unsure if the utterance is a statement or a question.
In some cases, though, an upward inflection at the end of sentences is in fact useful if you are 1) asking a question or 2) being tentative because you are going to add important information afterward. Other than those occasions, however, such upward inflection should be avoided if you want to be perceived as confident.
One way to avoid a sing-song voice is to start your phrase or sentence on a high pitch, then gradually cascade down in pitch in stages (as if going down a staircase). Then, just before the end of the phrase or sentence, slightly raise your pitch, briefly pause, and then end on a low pitch, thus giving an auditory signal to your audience that you have completed your phrase. This intonation pattern gives your voice a musical quality and people will generally enjoy listening to the sound of your voice due to how you compose the tone and rhythm. It also gives your voice an authoritative aura that will convey confidence and assurance, which can help reduce objections to your message or questions about it.
Listen to Spoken with Authority Coach Robert Gordon demonstrate the “sing-song", "flat", and "cascade" sentence intonation:
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