Why are distinctive voices created

The lecture is presented annually as part of the Distinctive Voices series. Read more. Distinctive Voices was created in as a program of the National Academy of Sciences Communication Initiative to increase science literacy.

All rights reserved. The pitch of your voice is largely determined by the length and tension of your vocal cords. By themselves, the vocal cords produce just a buzzing sound. The parts of your body between the vocal cords and the outside world, such as the throat, nose , and mouth, act as a resonating chamber to turn those buzzing sounds into your unique human voice.

As you can see, there are many different parts of the body involved in producing your voice. Each of those parts is unique in each person, which is what gives each person a unique voice.

Moreover, those parts can change over the years and even from day to day, so your voice itself can change over time and even day to day! For example, as boys grow older, their voices tend to deepen.

This is because testosterone in boys makes their vocal cords longer and thicker. Girls' voices will change a bit as they grow older, too, but not to as great an extent as with boys. In general, men will have deeper voices than women, because their vocal cords tend to be larger and vibrate at lower frequencies. You may also notice a change in your voice when you have a cold.

The raspy voice common to people with colds is caused by swelling in the vocal cords caused by the cold virus. Coughing can also cause further irritation and swelling in the vocal cords. Emotions can also play a role in your voice changing. When you get excited, nervous, or scared, the muscles around your larynx often tighten up, causing increased tension in your vocal cords. That increased tension translates to the higher pitch we often hear in our voice when we're excited or stressed.

Likewise, your voice can change from time to time as a result of anything that affects your vocal cords, the larynx, or any of the other parts of the body that help to produce your voice. Some of these factors include pollution, climate, smoking, and shouting or screaming too much. Ready to use your voice? Be sure to check out the following activities with a friend or family member:.

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Great to hear, william! We're glad you liked it. We hope you liked the Wonder just as much! Thanks for commenting! Hi, Olivia! We appreciate you vising Wonderopolis. Distinctive voices can lead us to think about significant issues that occur in the world. Distinctive voices are created through a number of language techniques such as rhetorical devices.

These enhance the meaning of the speeches and depict the key information that allows listeners to be alert of the issue the speaker is raising. They all challenge society by standing up for people and their own beliefs.

Martin Luther King and Severn Cullis-Suzuki both demonstrate the importance of their discussed issue throughout their speeches. It is a paradox to state self-evident truths. Suzuki argues that the government should not be so greedy when we already have everything we need. Her statement creates ethos as she is highlighting how wrong the situation is and she continues to raise the issue that is present in other countries.

Martin Luther King relates to historical texts to show evidence that someone else had tried to change American behaviours. The texts are legal documents but peoples are still continuing the previous behaviour. King makes reference to the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson.

This statement aimed to lead one to believe it will be accepted as right to and by everyone and not as an option. He emphasises the truths of society that should have been changed years before. This leads the listeners to think about the past and that. Get Access. Read More.

Distinctive Voices Words 5 Pages Distinctive voices convey personalities and attitudes by relating to social norms and defining events of their contemporary culture — they are a manifestation of various views and human experiences.