What My Voice Says About Me

People use multiple methods to communicate. All of them are aspects of our daily lives, our identities and our emotional well-being. Our voices are all unique and reflect a multitude of factors: where we were raised, languages we were exposed to as children and languages used by peers. Dialogue, spoken or otherwise, conveys a plethora of personal traits to listeners, whether intended or not. Some communications are seen as more feminine or masculine, while others reflect the region of the country where one lives. These traits often cause the listener to form opinions or conclusions about the speaker before taking the time to get to know the person. What phonetic and linguistic “habits” in speech affect and convey information about us? Real or assumed, how does voice project information about gender, sexuality, disability, ethnicity or social status? How do social norms and expectations affect a person’s true voice? Are digital technologies, such as texting and social media, affecting voice identity and cultural diversity?

Panel Moderator:  Amanda Brodeur, MSU College of Health and Human Services; Public Affairs Faculty Fellow & Conference Chair

Panel Producer:  Tara Benson, MSU Office of Student Engagement

• Live closed captioning is provided.