Quiet voice

[aj]

When I occasionally get the courage to say something - say if someone asks a question but not specifically to me - I normally get myself all pumped up, say it... and nobody hears, because my voice is so fantastically weak. This happens pretty much every time, and it's great for making me wonder why the hell I bothered, as it's such an effort to get it out at all. I suppose the answer is to 'just speak louder' but of course it's easier said than done. How much louder, for a start?

Just wonder if anyone has the same problem?

 

[Generical]

Yeh i get the same problem, i think i mumble mostly tho......but it seems loud enough to me when i speak but no-one ever hears it, pretty much have to shout sometimes And if its in a situation where the attention is on me, repeating myself is the last thing i want to do. And when i do speak its kinda quickly, usually because ive been trying to say it for the past few mins, which doesnt help. Anyways with me i probably have to work on my pronounciation and slow it down a bit...........it's just speaking quickly = less attention on you.......if you dont get asked to repeat 8O

 

[w*n*c*a*m]

It happens to me too and i really feel bad when people sort of ignore me because of that. That's why I usually just shuts my mouth in a conversation and wait for them to ask me for my comment or opinion. But it doesn't always work that way right? because sometimes we should really say what we want to say. But then after sometime I became really frustrated about this problem so I really tried to talk louder and it did work in a way but not that satisfying mainly because I always have to take great effort just to talk (and I tell you it's really tiring!). But fortunately I've discovered the real problem basing from observation from other people who also does the same.... Just check for yourself if you're also doing this:

a. you talk too weak ( but since you said that it's not you're problem.. nevermind that!)

b. you mumble ( try to practice "alone" speaking with you're mouth really open then gradually relax, you will feel better)

c. you talk too fast

d. you're tone of voice is too flat (just think of a sound that doesn't have any rythm or melody, it would be too dull too hear. Just give you're voice some kind of livelier tone the natural way)

e. just be confident (that's the hardest part for me and I still has a problem on this part but it would make talking really easier if you're confident enough to speak, I think this is the main key for our speech problem)

f. just relax

 

[w*n*c*a*m]

It happens to me too and i really feel bad when people sort of ignore me because of that. That's why I usually just shuts my mouth in a conversation and wait for them to ask me for my comment or opinion. But it doesn't always work that way right? because sometimes we should really say what we want to say. But then after sometime I became really frustrated about this problem so I really tried to talk louder and it did work in a way but not that satisfying mainly because I always have to take great effort just to talk (and I tell you it's really tiring!). But fortunately I've discovered the real problem basing from observation from other people who also does the same.... Just check for yourself if you're also doing this:

a. you talk too weak ( but since you said that it's not you're problem.. nevermind that!)

b. you mumble ( try to practice "alone" speaking with you're mouth really open then gradually relax, you will feel better)

c. you talk too fast

d. you're tone of voice is too flat (just think of a sound that doesn't have any rythm or melody, it would be too dull too hear. Just give you're voice some kind of livelier tone the natural way)

e. just be confident (that's the hardest part for me and I still has a problem on this part but it would make talking really easier if you're confident enough to speak, I think this is the main key for our speech problem)

f. just relax

 

[recluse]

When i am relaxed i have a deep strong and calm voice, but when i get nervous my voice gets higher and my words come out to fast and i sound really lame and weak.

 

[aj]

Thanks for the replies

In fact, talking about mumbling, I remember that I was always getting told not to when I was younger. I suppose my parents don't bother any more!

 

[4seasons]

Someone i know makes fun of the way i talk because i talk s quiet and mono-toned.

 

[aj]

[um... yes....]

There you go then. I can't believe I've just posted this, I think I must have gone insane :lol:

Don't take any notice of what I'm reading. I'm reading it in front of three of the people I work with, so I'm wanting to vanish into thin air all the time I'm reading it!

Nothing has made me cringe as much as I was when I was editing this for a long, long time.

 

[Infected_Malignity]

Take a deep breath and try again. Sometimes it has to do with timing as well. Like, for example if you end up getting cut off by somebody else.

People want openness. Believe it or not, if you seem too uncomfortable about asking, they might feel too awkward to answer. Your best bet is to be yourself.

 

[aj]

You know what, this is a big thing. For part of today a couple of new people were being trained. Yep, two pretty girls roughly the same age as me. I was sat next to them when they were waiting for a while. I had such a long chance when they weren't saying anything. I overheard that they'd been there before a year before.

I was so close to saying hi and I really wanted to make them feel welcome, and be nice. But I didn't because although it's fine in my head, I know what it'll sound like out loud. It's hard to explain, I think I said I that mumble, but it's not so much that. Not even that it's not deep. It's that I still sound like a small child. I know that nobody likes the sound of their own voice but it's cringeworthy. It's horrible.

 

[Psychedelicious]

I'm sure your voice isn't that bad. I don't really like my voice that much either, but it's actually pretty loud most of the time. I have the same problem by feeling that I talk like a child, I seem to think that I sound like a five year old most of the time.

You have to try though, just try and feel your voice when you speak, you can tell the difference to when it feels quiet/loud. I know it's hard, but just try to speak a little louder. My biggest problem is that my voice is so cracky and it's kind of hard to understand, but I've learned to tell the difference on how it will feel when it is more understandable. So I think I am starting to improve. If you don't practice though, it will always stay the same.

 

[KVCC]

I'm kinda the same..


when i was younger I talked A LOT, and really loudly.
In fact I got in trouble almost everyday because i constantely talked really loud in classes and stuff.

So i tried so hard to fix it, i became so quiet people think I barely talk.




WTF do people want, It's way too hard to be in between.

 

[Moonie]

I've always had a soft, quiet voice. I wish I had a stronger voice. It doesn't necessarily have to be very loud, but I wish I spoke more clearly and smooth. I have been working in retail for the last year and I think it has helped to improve the volume. Though, I still fumble on my words and crack. So, if you can get some work where you have to interact one-on-one with the public, I think it will help you improve.

 

[toothpastekisses]

.................

 

[Walk]

A big part of the reason that we have low voices is because of a lack of diaphragm strength.

Here's a youtube video for starting out in singing that deals exactly with this lack-of-diaphragm issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5CWsFaVnWM&feature=PlayList&p=82E6C50CD56A1C21&index=0

 

[Josh90]

I just mumble when talking to strangers

 

[strawberrybrunette]

I talk very quietly, apparently. Only i don't notice it. If i talk louder, then i feel like i'm shouting.

But, yeah, this has the side-effect of making people ignore what you say when you do say something. It's also a killer in school - teacher's are always like "speak up - the class can't hear what you're saying!" - que, i go bright red, and repeat myself in a mousy little stutter. I get told to speak up again...and on it goes! The cycle is endless!

I sort of take pride in my quiet voice, though. It's delicate, and unoffensive - whereas you get some people who shout whenever they talk. Those sorts are obnoxious and irritating, so i'm glad i'm not like that.

 

[aj]

Amazing that so many people have this problem. The trouble is that you just can't listen to a recording of your own voice objectively, can you?

Walk, I'm can't wait to try those in the car on the way to work tomorrow! Thank you!

 

[Helyna]

I had the impression that this was pretty common for SA sufferers. In fact, some can't speak at all in public!
Well, my voice is fine from inside my head. But when I hear a recording, it makes me feel like vomiting. My mom has been complaining that I talk through my nose, but I never really believed it until a few months ago when I recorded just a sentence in French class and heard myself. Now, I'm noticing it sometimes, and it hurts to hear. And I had a summer job where I occasionally had to use a walkie-talkie, which I could barely stand to do because it reminded me of the recording.
I never thought I'd be like this. In general, I'm getting better as I grow up, but this is definitely a big step backwards.

EDIT: it's not like I don't talk or talk quietly. I just feel uncomfortable and try not to use a walkie-talkie.

 

[TAMPA-BAY]

wow

Wow I am supprised so many deal with this too.LOL Like strabery said If I talk louder I feel like am yelling.

For me I sort of do it unporpuse because talking louder attracts attention and you know what comes with attention.

Anyway the the biggest help this year has been using the call computer feature on MSN or Yahoo messenger. I and others on these sites practice calling each others computer to talk to each others. I made tremendous progress since doing that.