Download Voice in Broadcasting-Introduction to Broadcasting-Lecture Handout and more Exercises Mass Communication in PDF only on Docsity! Introduction to Broadcasting – MCM 411 VU ©Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan 24 LESSON 11 VOICE IN BROADCASTING Radio broadcast is essentially based on voice. Listeners know hardly about the face, dressing up and at times the age of the person whose voice they are listening to. Most broadcasters have their peculiar voice – soft, hard, harsh or sharp. It is the producer who decides which type of voice suits what type of broadcast if they fulfill other requirements as a broadcaster. Since radio is a voice based mean of communication, it is needless to over emphasize the fact that people with clarity of voice are supposed to be venturing as broadcaster. But quality voice is by far a relative term. Every voice uttered may stand to convey some definite meanings. It becomes responsibility of producers to judge a voice for a particular situation and program where it serves the purpose of effective-communication. In fact training in usage of different voices may open the gate for an ordinary voice to become a voice-to-be- heard from a particular radio station. For example; a person has a very mature accent of Sindhi language, he/she may be chosen for a typical Sindhi program which may build up its own audience. So is for people in other languages, provided, they meet other criteria as broadcasters. We now look at some of the voice characteristics which a good broadcaster, as well as a producer, must keep in mind while producing any piece of broadcasting. Speech The foremost thing for a broadcaster is to know the language he/she is talking in. There is hardly any fun to stand in front of a mike if the speaker is not familiar adequately with the language he/she is to deliver the message in. A mere knowledge of ordinary level of language does not suffice the need for broadcasting for at times, the broadcaster is bound to encounter a word which requires specific pronunciation – just as in English language there are scores of words and phrases which belong to other languages like sine qua non (outcome) or prima Donna (show off). There are so many in Urdu. Since you are more working for a society where Urdu is spoken and understood more than other languages, and some times the script carries verses, knowledge of this language a cut above the ordinary becomes extremely inevitable. Accent For a standard broadcaster it is a must to talk in an accent which is socially acceptable. This means highest number of listeners should agree with the pronunciation, colloquial speech and the dialect. Any deviation from this position in a standard program like newsreel, or running commentary on a test match, or a regular announcement in between programs may stimulate laughter and the anger as well. In both cases this will cast a shadow on the broadcast quality of your program. Loudness Loudness is a unique voice character. There is a standard voice-level at which human beings talk to each other. If you speak louder, or cut down your voice volume, it may lead to al together different meanings. For example, you say some one “be-off” in a low voice; this at times may feel affectionate. But if you utter the same phrase at the top of your voice it certainly communicates much more than ordinary meanings… and may lead to an ugly situation. Loud means rage, low means polite. You may laugh at normal loudness. If you do so at a higher volume, people may even think you as mad. In dramas this characteristic of voice leads to more meanings docsity.com
