Excessive Intonation

Post Reply New Topic

I know many here have a problem with sounding monotone and I sometimes have the same problem but sometimes I get the opposite problem. Sometimes without meaning to I intonate too much and I end up sounding like an overacting actor.

Anyone else ever have that problem? Did anyone find a solution?

I do this too. I've noticed it for years. I don't like sounding like that.

I've been trying to improve the way I talk lately. Lower tone of voice, and more even, less variability.

I'm curious if anyone else has actual tips on this.

I sometimes do that, too, even when I don´t really want to. I don´t like it because people then say for example I sound very angry although I didn´t mean it, I just overacted and they thought my feelings were stronger because of how the words came out.
The only tip I have is to concentrate before you speak on how to speak, but that takes time and so the answer will come later.
On the other hand I have that quiet, montone voice when I do that what leads to many questions like: "What did you say? I don´t understand it."
Still didn´t really find out to do it right between those options...

I wonder if my excessive intonation is a remnant of a previous attempt to improve the way I talk, an attempt to alleviate my previous monotone or perhaps an exaggerated persona created in an attempt to trick myself into thinking I'm more confident.

The thing that concerns me is this combined with my intermittent sesquipedalianism might have the effect of making me seem pretentious.

For someone without a social instinct, for someone for whom all social thought is conscious, it's a fine line. I don't want to sound like Frasier Crane but I don't want to sound like Al Bundy either.

I think excessive intonation is worse than monotone. As you said it can make you sound pretentious. Because I don't know what is the right intonation in a given situation, I tend to speak in my natural way, which often seems to be taken in a completely wrong way. People try to find some negative meaning that isn't there based on the intonation. The best I can do is to try to be monotone.

In my early 20s, I picked a speech-model - my sister-in-law - and slowly but surely learned to speak like her. It worked, except if I lose my temper I talk like me again.

Knowing me I'm pretty sure I could find a way to make monotone sound pretentious.
Maybe I'm just being paranoid about it. A few weeks ago an old English woman said I was being "too posh". She didn't mention the way I spoke though.

The trouble is sometimes when I get over-excited I have a tendency to "play with my words" in regards to both intonation and diction. It's fun for me to do but it may not be fun to listen to.

Sometimes I overstate my consonants too.

I don't have that problem but I find people who do to be really annoying to listen to. Sorry I wish I could help you solve it but I can't think of any suggestions.

Hmmm. Went back to near monotone. How I sound like Hannibal Lector.
Great. /sarcasm.
Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

^ I agree wholeheartedly. I noticed in college when we had to give speeches my professor would give me feedback, mainly just imparting that I sound "over-rehearsed" and "snobby." When I was a tour guide, I noticed I'd just end up irritating my guests when I tried to change the inflection of my voice and over enunciate to try to get my point across.

I noticed in situations that involve interviews and public speaking, I do better about the intonation thing when I don't obsess and plan over my responses, and instead proceed as if I'm in a normal conversation. Most people would say I'm monotone but it sounds less ridiculous than when I'm trying to be...engaging. If that's the word for it.

Hmmm. Maybe but when it happens for me it happens without trying. I don't force it. It just happens to me.

How do you know that you're over-inflecting? Is it because people tell you or can you just sense yourself doing it even when you're not actively trying to?

Sometimes I wonder if the feedback about someone "over-doing" their speech is just a matter of perception, or just people being hypercritical or petty. I sense there is a problem with me because this feedback about my over-rehearsed speech has been consistent in just about every educational and professional setting I have been in.

No one has told me I do it but when I hear myself speak it just sounds like I'm doing it. I don't rehearse it, it just comes out.