Delivery & Voice
Vocal Emphasis
Use stress, inflection, and volume changes to highlight key words and ideas for maximum impact.
Last updated
What it is
The strategic use of vocal stress, inflection patterns, and volume variations to draw attention to specific words, phrases, or concepts. Effective vocal emphasis guides audience attention and reinforces message hierarchy.
Before & after
Before
“Speaking with flat inflection where every word carries equal weight and importance.”
After
“Using vocal stress to highlight 'critical,' rising inflection for questions, volume for urgency.”
When you’ll use it
Highlight key statistics: 'Sales increased by FORTY percent this quarter' (stress on 'forty')
Emphasize action items: 'We MUST submit proposals by Friday' (stress on 'must')
Create contrast: 'This is not about cost, this is about VALUE' (inflection shift on 'value')
Pro tip
Make important words bigger - louder, longer, or higher in pitch.
Questions & answers
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