Voice Portfolio:Articulation and Resonators

Articulation:

Articulation is the formation and production of clear speech, pronouncing certain words or sounds.

Anyone who has to perform, present a speech or teach has to try and articulate each word to ensure the speech is clear for the audience. The amount that you articulate depends on the audiences age, size and also what you are performing etc. If a teacher was teaching young children, then they would articulate slowly so they can understand and they would use smaller words for them to understand. However if you were holding a speech for adults then you would need to speak loud, clear and at a medium pace so that they can keep up with what you say but are not trying hard to understand what you are saying. 

          Actors use articulation so that the audience can hear and understand what they are saying especially when putting on an accent. The articulators used in this process of precision, quality and energy are;

Changes in the voice are made through the nose, to create a nasal sound such as snoring. Through the head, creating a high note. The throat creating a normal pitch; and the chest which creates a deep and vibrating noise like Tarzan. 

The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body, being used the most out of them all. Without this muscle talking wouldn't be possible, it is also key for articulation and pronouncing different letters such as 'T' and 'C'. The tongue can be exercised for the use of actors to ensure they articulate on stage. A simple one is recite lines but use your mouth and tongue and over exaggerate each movement, this may feel uncomfortable but it allows you to stretch your mouth ready for a show. 

The jaw is knowns as the Masseter,which is the Greek word for Masasthai, to chew. The movements on the jaw allow good voice articulation and production (allowing you to release more breath to create a louder voice.)

Relaxation is a great way to warm up the voice,  after doing the Alexander Technique I discovered this because my voice and mouth felt warm as did the rest of my body, and I could project my voice louder because of this. Relaxation is  not only a way for you to stop and listen to your body but it is also a way to rest your voice, which naturally helps your voice as an actor. 

Good articulation, i think, is the main thing to bring as an actor. If the audience cant understand what you're saying, their attention will drift else where, which results in them not enjoying the play. Articulation doesn't necessarily mean you have to become a posh character, speaking the Queens English, it means that you pronounce words correctly such as your 'th's' and 'ing'. This will automatically mean the audience will be able to hear and understand you, depending on if you deliver the lines at a pace people can identify the words. 
Some people, articulation is habit, and for some it will be something that you will have to work on. But I highly recommend you do so because actors need to talk properly in order to be casted as a character who does or even one that doesn't. Also in auditions, directors can judge you immediately on how you speak, whether they want you or not and I think articulating correctly will come at an advantage to you for these situations. 

A good way to teach yourself to articulate correctly is, firstly, to identify what words you do not pronounce correctly and break it down. For example 'Everything' you need to begin saying it like; every tthhing. The double up of t's and h's is to show you that you need to slightly drag out the sounds of these two letters to get the correct articulation. Slight emphasis on 'g' sound will mean you have the right way of pronouncing 'everything'. Try this now, as though the word flows nicely. This may feel odd if you are not used to pronouncing it this way but it will soon become something of the norm. 

The Soft and Hard palates are located at the roof of the mouth. If you run your tongue along the top of your mouth, directly behind the front teeth, you will feel small ridges which is your Hard palate. To find the soft palate, run your tongue further back until you feel smoothness; this is your soft palate. The soft palate can be moved, lifted up or down, contracted or stretched in the process of voice production. During the normal process of speaking, the palate lifts or drop depending on the pitch of the sound.

Resonators:
Resonators are caused when the Larynx vibrates, this happens when the vocal folds create air vibrations in the air column. 
The head, nose and chest are the main resonators for producing the voice. The head produces a high note, the nose a more nasal sound and the chest a low/deep note.

           
           The voice (articulation) and resonators are affected by the food eaten before going on stage such as dairy products especially chocolate. Warm ups of the voice and resonators helps you give a clear and loud performance. relaxation is also a good way to prepare your voice.