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Improving speech/voice?

Im a 19 year old guy and for the past few years have become increasingly annoyed at my voice and the way I speak. For some reason I always mumble, and the way I move my mouth makes it hard for people to understand what I say.

I make such an effort to project my voice but nothing works. Sometimes I speak and someone will be 1 foot away and not hear me.

Having just started uni its becoming a bit of a problem in pubs and clubs and stuff because we sit in large groups of people who all speak loudly over the music but I dont because noone can understand me, or think I'm just a mumbling idiot!

I was thinking about asking my doctor but I dont know if thats the right thing to do?

Its certainly decreasing my confidence, I am starting to avoid social situations because I find them increasingly awkward.

I should note that I am a perfectly 'normal' human being, there are no physical problems with my mouth or anything, so its not something thats a result of some kind of disability etc

Reply 1

silence

16

i think that speech is better recognised by sounds and their patterns rather than the volume we hear them at (to a certain extent). i don't know how to remedy the problem specifically, but if you focus on the sharpness of every letter/sound in words, as well as volume, it could work.

Reply 2

username21537

2

I mumble but thats because I lack all confidence. Im overcoming that though. I wonder if your speech problems are caused by this too? Lacking the confidence to really speak up?

Just try boosting your self confidence, somehow

Reply 3

Icy Ghost

2

I have a quiet voice and it's not uncommon for me to be asked to repeat things, especially when I'm doing a presentation or talking in front of the class.
There are a few books on how to project your voice and my music teacher told me that you had to project your voice through your sinuses :confused:

which is along the front of your face or something. Also if your posture isn't correct, that can have an effect on the quality of your voice too.

Don't quote me though, I could be talking complete rubbish :biggrin:

Reply 4

Segat1

16

Go to the Doc and ask to be referred to a speech therapist. Failing that, get some elocution lessons. I kid you not. I'm not suggesting you go al Henry Hibbert "the rain in spain stays mainly in the plain" but if you are worried about it that may help.

Reply 5

foreverlost

OP

MR_JR

I mumble but thats because I lack all confidence. Im overcoming that though. I wonder if your speech problems are caused by this too? Lacking the confidence to really speak up?

Just try boosting your self confidence, somehow

Generally, yeah, I do have a lack of confidence. Not quite sure how I could improve it thtough?

Reply 6

mathsdave

I'm similar to you. In small quiet groups im fine, but a larger slightly noisier group and find it really hard to sound clear. I'm also interested in people's advice on this topic

Reply 7

username21537

2

I just threw caution into the wind one night. It was a fancy dress party and I went for it. Knowing that I was mainly in character, it didnt matter what I did as I was detatched from my action. The reactions were good and after that my confidence shot through the roof...in some areas lol.

Reply 8

Vikernes

I am a softly spoken person and also have/had trouble being heard at times. At my old job I had to shout over noisy machinery and was rarely heard. During nights out when I'm overly relaxed/tired I have to repeat myself alot during normal conversation. That said, at clubs I am hardly ever asked to repeat myself. Instead I am the one who has to ask others what they said, and that in itself ****s conversations up anyway.

Reply 9

Dekota

foreverlost

Im a 19 year old guy and for the past few years have become increasingly annoyed at my voice and the way I speak. For some reason I always mumble, and the way I move my mouth makes it hard for people to understand what I say.

I make such an effort to project my voice but nothing works. Sometimes I speak and someone will be 1 foot away and not hear me.

...Its certainly decreasing my confidence, I am starting to avoid social situations because I find them increasingly awkward.

Exact same for me. :frown:

People take the mic, and I've practically stopped talking. :frown:

But I'm only at high school, so it's not much of a problem as of ... yet.

People say I've got an accent and it's not very understandable to others. :frown:

Also, I'm a quality person. :cool:

Reply 10

Dalimyr

17

I know it's possible to sort out any speech "defects", as it happened with me many years ago...but I can't remember too well. When I was 9, my teacher noticed that I would randomly add an "A" sound to the end of words. I never noticed it myself, but was told by EVERYONE that I did it. My teacher gave me some one-on-one reading sessions during class, and after a few weeks I stopped doing it. Considering it was almost 10 years ago, I can't remember at all how the hell she got me to stop it, but I've never forgotten about it.
Get a book and read it aloud, concentrating on how you're speaking...as far as I can remember, that's how my problem was sorted out. If you've got a friend who would be willing, maybe they could listen to you and help you - I'd suggest this for two reasons: first, they'd be more likely to hear your mumbling and can tell you if they don't understand anything you say, and second, if it is indeed to do with a lack of confidence, having someone there listening to you should build up your confidence :wink:

Reply 11

Brummie Yoshi

here at uni in the drama dpt, we learn something called Alexander technique, which makes your voice resonate more and sound a bit clearer. Although it won't make it better overnight or drastically change your voice, it does make it harder to mumble.

Google Alexander and see what you find...good luck!

Reply 12

devilgirl999

1

i suggest going back to your doctor and asking if you could have speech therapy

or

find some sort of confidence class so you learn to project your voice

Reply 13

London_psycho

1

Talk like a girl. Your voice will sound more clear atleast.

Reply 14

Coombe

10

i mumble and have a problem with people hearing me sometimes. You could have elocution lesson but i think they will be expesive and as your a student...

I'm sure no one thinks your an idiot coz you mumble. Try to be confidient -not something you can exactly choose i know- but it will make you speek louder and clearer. Make sure you face the person you're talking to - protject it at them rather than the floor, which i'm sure u already try to do.

Don't let it get you down xxx

Reply 15

Champagne Breakfast

16

foreverlost

Im a 19 year old guy and for the past few years have become increasingly annoyed at my voice and the way I speak. For some reason I always mumble, and the way I move my mouth makes it hard for people to understand what I say.

I make such an effort to project my voice but nothing works. Sometimes I speak and someone will be 1 foot away and not hear me.

Having just started uni its becoming a bit of a problem in pubs and clubs and stuff because we sit in large groups of people who all speak loudly over the music but I dont because noone can understand me, or think I'm just a mumbling idiot!

I was thinking about asking my doctor but I dont know if thats the right thing to do?

Its certainly decreasing my confidence, I am starting to avoid social situations because I find them increasingly awkward.

I should note that I am a perfectly 'normal' human being, there are no physical problems with my mouth or anything, so its not something thats a result of some kind of disability etc