My Conversational Tone Theory

[Geo]

My BA was in Speech Communication (University of Illiniois at Urbana-Champaign). While I ended up specializing in Organizational Communication, I remember vividly all the time early on in the program studying political speeches...

Anyway, I have a theory as to why Hillary is losing (and why Kerry lost)...

Granted, I do not believe it is the sole reason or even the biggest factor in their losing. But I firmly belief it has to do with their likability (or lack thereof)...

Ready?

Kerry lost and Hillary is losing because, compared to their opponents, they rarely speak with a conversational tone...

Listen to their speeches and you will see (er, um- hear) what I mean. They use an unnatural cadence and don't let up. I don't know why politicians always fall into this especially with all the coaching they get...

Do you remember when Hillary "found her voice"? My theory again applies here-

It wasn't because she cried. It was because she spoke in a conversational tone and all of a sudden she was likeable. And she took that momentum to the podium and started with the cadence again...

Obama uses the cadence but only as it should be used- climactically...

Go ahead. Throw tomatoes...

:idontno:

[goodwitch58]

Yes, you are on to it.

I also have a degree in Communication with emphasis in Speech; went into speech writing and coaching for executives.

I know from experience what you are describing can be "coached - trained" out of someone....why Clinton and Kerry didn't find someone to help them, I will never understand...

Surprised you, didn't I?

[scooterbug44]

I think you hit the nail on the head! I've heard Hilary's voice compared to nails on a chalk board and a rat dog yipping! Those are the polite descriptions.........

[Here4Good]

Your theory may explain why I like Mike Huckabee so much, while disagreeing with him on nearly every single topic!

[Beach Bimmer]

I spent many years running radio stations and have consulted stations and coached talent in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean...

Obama indeed conveys a voice quality that is warm, likeable, trustworthy. Listen to him in recent Matt Lauer (Today Show) interviews, they both have those voice qualities.

Hillary over-projects too many words, and tends to rise above her natural octave...

To contrast the past, Ronald Reagan had voice qualities that people really liked... Richard Nixon did not. Reagan had been a radio personality and actor, and knew how to use his voice to full advantage.

[Tootsie]

Your theory may explain why I like Mike Huckabee so much, while disagreeing with him on nearly every single topic!

he is a likable guy... too bad he isn't going to be president so kevin spacey can play him in a movie someday. :lol:

[Allifunn]

giving credence to the thought..."it's not what you say, but how you say it"
Just listening to Hillary makes my eyes glaze over. She needs coaching!

[rapunzel]

Fascinating -- and spot on -- observation.

[Mermaid]

You must have been listening to NPR yesterday afternoon because they made that very comment, about how Hillary's voice goes up in register when she's driving a point home. And how it's not to her advantage.

[Miss Kitty]

Maybe she reminds to many people of a nagging mother/wife? I don't have any first hand knowledge of such a thing. :wave:

[hnooe]

Maybe she reminds to many people of a nagging mother/wife? I don't have any first hand knowledge of such a thing. :wave:

Yes. I think that is true as well. But is this totally superficial? Are we voting for a friend in a high school election or are we voting someone who can really lead us? I will put up with a scratchy voice for 4 years if I believe in someone--that is what we should vote for when we are in front of the lever or screen.

[jdarg]

Her awful voice is the least of my worries. If she is the Dem candidate, we are handing the election to the Republicans on a silver platter. Yum yum- come and get it y'all! Four more years!

[Johnrudy]

Mr. JR has said from the beginning that Hillary "squawks." Our pastor is a very strong female and she "squawks" (actually its more like yelling and shouting out) when she preaches.

I believe this is how some women feel they need to project themselves - - they believe they are coming across as strong speakers (thus strong in their beliefs) - - something they may be taking into consideration when up against traditionally male-dominated professions.

[Smiling JOe]

geowickey, I fully agree and have mentioned this as the reason why I cannot stand to listen to her yell and scream at me. She did tone down, a week or so before the breakdown, but she is right back on target of raising hell. I guess she is trying to show passion, but she shows anger, and I don't like angry people in power. Angry people are too quick to overreact. Bill, in contrast, is a smooth talker, appears sincere, and for that reason alone, is interesting to listen to and somewhat likable. Obama also fits into the category of a smooth talker, and is more likable for that reason alone. I think that conversational tone works better when working with leaders of other countries, too.

[Smiling JOe]

Her awful voice is the least of my worries. If she is the Dem candidate, we are handing the election to the Republicans on a silver platter. Yum yum- come and get it y'all! Four more years!If Hillary wins the entire shabang, and gets re-elected, that would make something like 28 years of a Clinton or Bush ruling as President. :eek: If you can't get it done in four years, I say, "please step aside."

[TooFarTampa]

Your theory may explain why I like Mike Huckabee so much, while disagreeing with him on nearly every single topic!


This is totally true. :blink:

Great post geowickey!

[seaside2]

Does this mean that we are more intersted/swayed in how a person speaks than what it is that he/she says?

Interesting.

[goodwitch58]

Perhaps. There are lots of communication studies showing it is emotion that sells the car; the house; and the candidate....

[hnooe]

Perhaps. There are lots of communication studies showing it is emotion that sells the car; the house; and the candidate....

You're right...I can re-sell the car, and the house (not right now), but I will be stuck with the candidate. Probably no guarantees come with the candidate.

[Here4Good]

Does this mean that we are more intersted/swayed in how a person speaks than what it is that he/she says?

Interesting.


I think that it is that in order to be receptive to what a person is saying, we must be engaged in a positive listening experience.

As I said, I do not agree with Pastor Mike, but I continually listen to him anyway. He hasn't swayed me yet, but I won't "turn him off". I turn W and Hillary off all the time - W sounds like a junior high smartass, and Hillary keeps pounding and pounding at me until I feel like I am being punished for something.

Similarly, I could NOT listen to Al Gore. I felt like he was talking down to me in a voice reserved for folks who need help cutting their meat.

[Sea Sothebys]

I strongly believe this theory as well.
No offense but McCain has some odd speech behavior too.

On another communication note: think about what is missing in posts, emails and letters that usually gets misconstrued easily. We are missing tonality and emphasis. This is why picking up the phone is so important in business communication. And also why I try to carefully choose how I write posts.

[hnooe]

I strongly believe this theory as well.
No offense but McCain has some odd speech behavior too.

On another communication note: think about what is missing in posts, emails and letters that usually gets misconstrued easily. We are missing tonality and emphasis. This is why picking up the phone is so important in business communication. And also why I try to carefully choose how I write posts.

I agree. Why can't the proper tone and emphasis be placed in the written word or post... we still depend on, dare I say it, the ubiquitous "smilies"..>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:D

[Smiling JOe]

Does this mean that we are more intersted/swayed in how a person speaks than what it is that he/she says?

Interesting.

I'm not sure. My first thought is yes. The race is a popularity contest anyway. The money goes to the people who the public thinks will win. However, when a candidate yells instead of using conversational voice, no one even hears the policy. If one speaks with the conversational voice, people will listen to what they are saying, but it doesn't mean that they will be swayed, if the statements aren't in line with one's own thoughts of gov't. I will also add that people with droning voices aren't fun to listen to, no matter if they yell or not. (think Ross Perot)

[peapod1980]

Your theory may explain why I like Mike Huckabee so much, while disagreeing with him on nearly every single topic!
:lolabove: I love it!
It's interesting, though, because this is a sort of running theme in our house. Both Mr. Pod and I admit that however superficial a reason, neither of us could stand to listen to her for four years. I almost feel guilty every time I say it, but it's the honest truth.

[seaside2]

Ok, so we appear to be excessively swayed by the way a person speaks, not by what they say.

That is super scary to me. :yikes:

I want a candidate/car salesman/banker/doctor/whatever to actually "deliver the goods" whether they speak with warm and fuzzy tones or not.

Just me I suppose, but I want to go beyond the sizzle and look at the steak. Sizzle don't feed my hungry belly and a politician/car salesman/banker/doctor/whatever that sounds good and doesn't produce is fast off my list of preferred people.


So there!!!!

[tistheseason]

Ok, so we appear to be excessively swayed by the way a person speaks, not by what they say.

That is super scary to me. :yikes:

I want a candidate/car salesman/banker/doctor/whatever to actually "deliver the goods" whether they speak with warm and fuzzy tones or not.

Just me I suppose, but I want to go beyond the sizzle and look at the steak. Sizzle don't feed my hungry belly and a politician/car salesman/banker/doctor/whatever that sounds good and doesn't produce is fast off my list of preferred people.


So there!!!!


I think everyone wants more than just sizzle. But subconsciously, their intonations make you pay attention, or turn off the TV. And it's hard to get their "message" if you walk out of the room or turn off the TV every time you see them. I'm not talking about when you purposefully turn off (or on) the TV because you decidedly don't (or do) like them. But when you are drawn to stay tuned. . . .even if you should have gone to bed 5 minutes ago or if you are already late for an appointment or someone walks into the room and starts talking to you. . . that is when it can really make a difference.

Quite frankly I think communication style is a very important thing for a President. He's the head PR guy for the government. He is THE person who explains to us what the administrations policies are. He's the person that explains to us, the people, what the reasons, the thought process, the goals of the polices are. If you want to have support of the general populous, you have to be able to communicate.

[Here4Good]

Quite frankly I think communication style is a very important thing for a President. He's the head PR guy for the governement. He is THE person who explains to us what the administrations policies are. He's the person that explains to us, the people, what the reasons, the thought process, the goals of the polices are. If you want to have support of the general populous, you have to be able to communicate.


I agree - this is the person who will appear in front of us in times of tragedy, who will be the one who makes us believe that the plan will work, will be the person who will be interacting with heads of state worldwide.

[Smiling JOe]

The steak sizzle is interesting. You have to remember that when we listen to the yahoos, we are comparing them. You mention a steak sizzling when on the grill, but what about the steak which makes unusual popping sounds, like popcorn exploding, when it is on the grill? No one wants to eat that steak if they listen to it being cooked. I said from the get-go, that the race is a popularity contest. Other people challenged me, but I think if you ask around, you'll find that most Americans couldn't tell you a single thing about the candidates, other than something about their appearance, voice or personality. Many will tell you that they like a candidate, but they cannot tell you why. It's just a gut instinct for them. Youtube, myspace, facebook, etc are formats which tomorrow's voters will grow up with.

[seaside2]

True, all that.

Just like to make sure that I for one don't get taken in by rhetoric (If I can help it) and then wake up one day and find that I bought a pig in a poke.




although I do like my Q

[Mango]

Maybe this is why I never listened to my Mother. :lol:

[NoHall]

Ok, so we appear to be excessively swayed by the way a person speaks, not by what they say.

That is super scary to me. :yikes:

I want a candidate/car salesman/banker/doctor/whatever to actually "deliver the goods" whether they speak with warm and fuzzy tones or not.

Just me I suppose, but I want to go beyond the sizzle and look at the steak. Sizzle don't feed my hungry belly and a politician/car salesman/banker/doctor/whatever that sounds good and doesn't produce is fast off my list of preferred people.


So there!!!!

If you cross the line from speech to communication to psychology, it looks different. Why is she yelling all the time? There is nothing wrong with her voice--we're not talking about Owen Meany, here. She speaks that way because of the way she is wired.

We don't listen to people who get in our faces and yell because we don't like that attitude of dominance, fear, control, whatever... People who speak in the "conversational tone" are speaking from a different attitude.

[Tootsie]

Yes. I think that is true as well. But is this totally superficial? Are we voting for a friend in a high school election or are we voting someone who can really lead us? I will put up with a scratchy voice for 4 years if I believe in someone--that is what we should vote for when we are in front of the lever or screen.

agreed hnoo, as long as that person articulates and can speak intelligently, or coherently, on his or feet, without cues.

geowickey, I fully agree and have mentioned this as the reason why I cannot stand to listen to her yell and scream at me. She did tone down, a week or so before the breakdown, but she is right back on target of raising hell. I guess she is trying to show passion, but she shows anger, and I don't like angry people in power. Angry people are too quick to overreact. Bill, in contrast, is a smooth talker, appears sincere, and for that reason alone, is interesting to listen to and somewhat likable. Obama also fits into the category of a smooth talker, and is more likable for that reason alone. I think that conversational tone works better when working with leaders of other countries, too.

you like her. you know you do.:lol:
actually, hillary's interview style is quite pleasant, and she sounds very together, and presents herself and her ideas/issues very well. she is very coherent, laughs, smiles, and is confident in what she is saying.

I guess things do get heated though and she's definitely desparate. much to lose here.

I think that it is that in order to be receptive to what a person is saying, we must be engaged in a positive listening experience.

As I said, I do not agree with Pastor Mike, but I continually listen to him anyway. He hasn't swayed me yet, but I won't "turn him off". I turn W and Hillary off all the time - W sounds like a junior high smartass, and Hillary keeps pounding and pounding at me until I feel like I am being punished for something.

Similarly, I could NOT listen to Al Gore. I felt like he was talking down to me in a voice reserved for folks who need help cutting their meat.

I am cracking UP over here. really great post.:lolabove::funn:


Quite frankly I think communication style is a very important thing for a President. He's the head PR guy for the government. He is THE person who explains to us what the administrations policies are. He's the person that explains to us, the people, what the reasons, the thought process, the goals of the polices are. If you want to have support of the general populous, you have to be able to communicate.

tis - I agree - and certainly many leaders can do this, and many can not. the president must be an excellent communicator in every way, including speaking coherently on his or her feet.

I wonder what people in other countries think of Bush, and America, when they see and hear him speak?:roll:

[hnooe]

I wonder what people in other countries think of Bush, and America, when they see and hear him speak?:roll:

To quote Fidel Castro (dear, sweet Fidel) from 2001: "I hope for the sake of the American people, that he is not as stupid as he looks."

[NoHall]

To quote Fidel Castro (dear, sweet Fidel) from 2001: "I hope for the sake of the American people, that he is not as stupid as he looks."

But the tone of his voice is not confrontational...I think that's in his favor. I can't remember the exact comparison, but Dana Carvey said that imitating Bush's father was a cross between Mr. Rogers and someone else (John Wayne?) Authoritative but comforting...

[Miss Kitty]

Hillary is running an ad here that I wish y'all could see and hear. She really does a nice job and sounds very sincere and almost, dare I say...soothing! She is using her nice inside voice.

[Tootsie]

But the tone of his voice is not confrontational...I think that's in his favor. I can't remember the exact comparison, but Dana Carvey said that imitating Bush's father was a cross between Mr. Rogers and someone else (John Wayne?) Authoritative but comforting...

no, certainly not confrontational. something else though.. defensive, and not unlike a junior high smartass (love this so much here4good! think I'll use it a lot)...

[NoHall]

no, certainly not confrontational. something else though.. defensive, and not unlike a junior high smartass (love this so much here4good! think I'll use it a lot)...

Yeah...the younger Bush does kind of have that sort of tone...

[tistheseason]

I wonder what people in other countries think of Bush, and America, when they see and hear him speak?:roll:

We have lots of friends and family in Europe and they all think Bush is a bumbling idiot. They were all in shock when we re-elected him. We got sooo many phone calls. . . . My husband's 18 yr old cousin from Spain was living here with us a few summers ago and the amount of Bush jokes that his friends would send him was unbelievable.

The USA is definitely suffering from a massive PR problem in Europe. I'm sure the rest of the world, too.

[up4golf]

I wonder what people in other countries think of Bush, and America, when they see and hear him speak?:roll:
nuclear

[goodwitch58]

http://www.slate.com/id/2109242/

[DD]

I strongly believe this theory as well.
No offense but McCain has some odd speech behavior too.

On another communication note: think about what is missing in posts, emails and letters that usually gets misconstrued easily. We are missing tonality and emphasis. This is why picking up the phone is so important in business communication. And also why I try to carefully choose how I write posts.

I agree about McCain. There's just something strange about his voice. And I agree even more about your second statement. I just tried to reiterate this to someone the other day. I think things get misconstrued all the time for this very reason. I can't even count the times I've erased posts before hitting that submit button. ;-)

Maybe this is why I never listened to my Mother. :lol:

:floor:You rebel.

nuclear

:clap:

[up4golf]

i think part of why hillary is losing,also are her claims of being everything, 35 years experience to be president, 8 years in the whitehouse, part of the middle class. 35 years of wanting to be president maybe, is barbara bush also qualified with her 8 years? and the one person in the middle class that can loan their campaign 5 million dollars? some of what she says is not believable.

[goodwitch58]

i think part of why hillary is losing,also are her claims of being everything, 35 years experience to be president, 8 years in the whitehouse, part of the middle class. 35 years of wanting to be president maybe, is barbara bush also qualified with her 8 years? and the one person in the middle class that can loan their campaign 5 million dollars? some of what she says is not believable.

Agree. It is a double whammy for her: her voice and style when she is before a large group, or a camera, puts people off, so that her message is almost completely lost. And, often the message that does come through is colored by the tone, and not accepted.

From what I have heard from people who know her, she is completely different in person. It is a shame really that she did not have better coaching.

[Tootsie]

http://www.slate.com/id/2109242/

excellent. sometimes we don't care to see our country from the outside. it isn't easy to do (just as it isn't easy to see yourself from another's perspective).



Another four years of a president in thrall to the religious right and the neo-conservatives is another four years in which the United States risks sliding back into an earlier age of bigotry and social injustice." Writing in the Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/) of London, Simon Jenkins' condescending sigh of disappointment (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-1343277,00.html) typified the genre: Mr Bush's election will give the rest of the world a collective heart attack. It expected a Kerry win. At the very least it expected Americans to somehow rein in a man it sees as naïve and dangerously belligerent. … Americans declined to rein him in. They legitimised him. The rest of the world has been roundly snubbed.

[jdarg]

excellent. sometimes we don't care to see our country from the outside. it isn't easy to do (just as it isn't easy to see yourself from another's perspective).



Another four years of a president in thrall to the religious right and the neo-conservatives is another four years in which the United States risks sliding back into an earlier age of bigotry and social injustice." Writing in the Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/) of London, Simon Jenkins' condescending sigh of disappointment (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-1343277,00.html) typified the genre: Mr Bush's election will give the rest of the world a collective heart attack. It expected a Kerry win. At the very least it expected Americans to somehow rein in a man it sees as naïve and dangerously belligerent. … Americans declined to rein him in. They legitimised him. The rest of the world has been roundly snubbed.

Dangerously belligerent- a perfect description of W, Cheney, and Rove.

[kurt]

Watch the debate tonight and they will both be speaking in their normal voices, with emphasis added at times to appear authoritative. The Clinton v. Obama race is very much about popularity because we are told they are similar in policy.

The difference comes down to High School. Obama is the cool guy. The Captain of the basketball team. The King of the prom. Barry Obama - the guy everyone likes. Someone convinces him to run for student body Prez at the last minute and he wins in a landslide. Hillary is the captain of the debate team. She knows what is best for the school and knows why the teachers are not good at their jobs. She is avoided in the hall by many. If she's not student body President the school will suffer.

[Insert "Election" movie clip.]

The adult Hillary comes across as the stern mom giving the lecture. We are all programmed to dislike that even if she's right. The adult Barry is the awesome Uncle who will take you out for ice cream and tell you everything will be all right.

McCain? He's the grandfather you see every so often at family functions who tries to gain your affection by telling war stories and making coins appear from behind your ear. He's also like a Walmart greeter, according to Letterman.

Here it is - I had to watch it again - too perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rleUPHX8yfM

[Smiling JOe]

To quote Fidel Castro (dear, sweet Fidel) from 2001: "I hope for the sake of the American people, that he is not as stupid as he looks."

Interesting quote, coming from Fidel, The Dictator.

[Smiling JOe]

i think part of why hillary is losing,also are her claims of being everything, 35 years experience to be president, 8 years in the whitehouse, part of the middle class. 35 years of wanting to be president maybe, is barbara bush also qualified with her 8 years? and the one person in the middle class that can loan their campaign 5 million dollars? some of what she says is not believable.

and on top of that, Hillary actually tries to pretend that she has more experience than Obama, when she doesn't. Unless, of course, Hillary was pulling Bill's strings, and we all know that wasn't the case.