USE OF TONE TO REVEAL ATTITUDE

 

What is attitude?

Attitude is generally what you feel about something.

What’s your attitude towards your English teacher, English as a subject, school in general or your school principal?

 

As readers/listeners we have the task of identifying the writer's/speaker's attitude towards their subject matter.

 

We can tell how someone feels from his or her voice. The quality of voice that communicates a speaker’s attitude, mood or personality is called tone.

 

From how you talk we can tell whether you are angry, motivated, and happy, in love, sad, excited or hopeful.

 

We can tell the attitude of the speaker towards a subject (topic), a listener

(audience), a character etc.

 

The choice of words (diction) can help reveal the tone

 

Two people speaking about the same subject may have different attitudes towards the topic from their tone; this may help us discern the speaker’s attitude.

 

Consider the example below;

“Alcohol is an infernal concoction that ought to be eliminated from the face of earth”

The speaker assumes a hateful/critical/disapproving tone.

From the tone what do you think the speaker’s attitude towards alcohol is? In other words how does the speaker feel about alcohol?

 

Consider the second example below;

“Alcohol is a glorious, excellent libation from the very fountain of heaven”

This speaker assumes an approving/admiring/adoring/loving/revering

tone

What is the second speaker’s attitude towards the subject (alcohol)? How does the speaker feel about the subject? 

 

While the first speakers attitude is hateful, contemptuous or spiteful the

second speaker attitude is reverent and

loving. 

 

We use adjectives to describe tone or attitude. 

 

Some of these adjectives include;

 

·       formal

·       solemn

·       bitter

·       frustrated

·       reflective

·       critical

·       scornful

·       optimistic

·       approving

·       contemptuous

·       admiring

·       resigned

·       adoring

·       doubtful

·       threatening

·       hopeful

·       loving

 

When you listen to someone’s voice carefully, you can tell their attitude from the tone they adopt. 

  Next we analyse oral skills notes on KCSE oral skills tested areas.

How can you tell how someone is feeling from their choice of words or quality of voice?