What YOUR VOICE Tells the World
Knowstalgia Knowstalgia
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 Published On Premiered Aug 27, 2020

Are you trustworthy? Or are you a liar? Are you an introvert? Or are you an extrovert? A lot can be determined by one's voice. What does your voice reveal about you?

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Do you member the episode “Heart of Ice” from Batman the Animated Series?

I remember watching it after school, and it was one of those moments when I knew that I was witnessing greatness.

The episode won a Daytime Emmy for redefining the origin story of Mr. Freeze, shifting the character from a cold, emotionless villain to an emotional wreck of a man who’s hell-bent on sharing his own heartbreak with the world.

And while fans of the franchise have countless moments of greatness to enjoy, from the museum scene in Tim Burton’s original Batman to the interrogation of Heath Ledger’s Joker in the Dark Knight Rises, that portrayal of Mr. Freeze helped elevate the Animated Series to the peak of Dark Knight storytelling.

That series is now revered as one of the best animated shows of all time, thanks to the complexity of its storylines and its “dark deco” film noir aesthetics. But when I rewatch it now, it’s the voice acting that really sets the series apart.

Just compare Michael Ansara’s deeply emotional Mr. Freeze to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cheesy one-liners. Or Kevin Conroy’s commanding and authoritative Batman to Christian Bale’s over-the-top growl.

And while fans love to debate the merits of different portrayals of the Joker, I’d argue that Mark Hamill’s Joker tops them all by perfectly embodying the villain’s charismatic, euphoric, and utterly sinister personality—right down to the range of maniacal laughs he created for the character.

The entire series is a masterclass in how voice defines personality, and it reveals a lot about what your own voice tells the world about who you are.

So if you’re a fan of the series or you just want to project a more confident persona when you speak, stick around for some things your voice can reveal about you.

One of the main things your voice projects to the world is whether or not they should trust you.

Countless studies have shown that a deeper, more grounded voice leads to more trust from the listener, whereas a higher-pitched voice sounds less trustworthy.

And if someone changes the pitch or tone of their voice while they’re speaking, it could be an indicator that they’re lying.

Talking slowly with an even tone also suggests emotional stability and control, while a person talking quickly and in a higher pitch tells the world that they lack emotional regulation.

Studies have also shown that vocal tone can even reveal whether a person is an introvert or extrovert. Introverts tend to speak quietly and slowly, whereas extroverts usually speak loudly and quickly.

Do you think of yourself as highly empathetic? If so, you likely speak in a warm, soft voice. A tense, halting voice leads listeners to assume that you lack empathy and kindness.

And if you’re a natural leader, chances are you speak in a loud and enthusiastic voice, whereas quiet voices are less likely to convey leadership characteristics.

Stress also shows up in your voice, as it tightens your vocal cords, making you sound crackly, uneven, and halted. An at-ease person, on the other hand, has a calm voice with steady airflow, which also conveys confidence.

If you have a particularly nasal voice, studies have shown that listeners may think you’re calculating and demanding, and they’re less likely to take you seriously. That said, you can counter this effect by opening your mouth wider when you speak to allow more air to escape.

And if you want to be perceived as strong, try speaking in a deeper voice. One study found that listeners could accurately predict a person’s upper body strength by the depth of their voice.

These are all things that voice actors have to consider when they’re creating the voice of a character, but they’re a key part of your character as well. So the next time you’re in a job interview or at a social function, try altering your voice to portray the sort of character you want to project into the world.

And for the love of God, stop doing that awful Bane impression.

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