0272 – Intonation Constipation

2021.09.29 – 0272 – Intonation Constipation

This is when there is barely any intonation at all – your presentation style is as flat as Ian McDonald on diazepam.[1]

With such a delivery, all the ‘story signposts’ are at the same level. Low. And even though the delivery may be unemotional – good on occasion – it may also be considered uninvolving or uncaring, or rude and does little to help lead a listener through the lanes of learning.

Rather than get a full understanding, they’re more likely to fall asleep.

You need to stop sounding boring and stop them from snoring.

[1] Ian McDonald was the Ministry of Defence spokesman during the Falklands War of 1982, when he provided televised updates as British forces recaptured the islands from Argentina. During the three-month conflict, he became known for his restrained, and at times emotionless, style of delivery. Mr McDonald later admitted his emotionless style of delivery was deliberate, as he felt it could lessen the impact of any bad news. "I knew right from the start there would be bad news as well as good news, which is why the delivery I chose was drained of all emotion with no adjectives, short and truthful”. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17562230.ian-mcdonald-dull-voice-falklands-war-dies-82/

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Peter has been around voice and audio all his working life and has trained hundreds of broadcasters in all styles of radio from pop music stations such as Capital FM and BBC Radio 1 to Heart FM, the classical music station BBC Radio 3 and regional BBC stations. He’s trained news presenters on regional TV, the BBC News Channel and on flagship programmes such as the BBC’s Panorama. Other trainees have been music presenters, breakfast show hosts, travel news presenters and voice-over artists.

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"Bleeping Demo" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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