RECOMMENDED METHODS

The most popularly accepted form of breathing for speech is known as central, or more technically, intercostal-diaphragmatic breathing. In this method the following sequence is employed:

1. The lower ribs swing outwards and upwards increasing the size of the chest (Thorax) laterally. Breath is drawn into the lungs.

2. The diaphragm (a double-dome shaped muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen) is caused to descend and the chest increases in capacity vertically, and further breath is drawn into the lungs.

Schematic diagram of the rib cage, seen from the front, showing the position of the diaphragm

3. The diaphragm is allowed to rise, while the ribs are retained in the raised position, and air is expelled.

4. The ribs descend and further air is expelled.

It is important always to work in this sequence.

MAIN FAULTS

Clavicular breathing

Where very shallow breaths are taken into the upper part of the chest, providing very little capacity or control. It is often accompanied by a raising of the shoulders and a thrusting forward of the upper chest. It manifests itself in breathy tone and short phrasing from the speaker.

Abdominal breathing

This is more commonly found in men, where the ribs are hardly raised at all and the breath is taken immediately by the diaphragm. The whole of the lower abdomen, below the navel, is allowed to distend. Again the result is diminished capacity and little control over it.

Noisy breathing

Any adequate breathing method should provide for a noiseless inspiration of air. By constricting in the throat, through tension, or sucking the air in through partially closed teeth, a stricture is formed causing an audible friction as air is drawn into the body.

Lackof capacity

This manifests itself as an inability to sustain longer phrases. The speaker runs out of breath and the voice trails away. This may be due to insufficient control over the breathing muscles or a breathing method which does not successfully employ the use of both ribs and diaphragm. It could be that the speaker has an adequate supply but habitually taxes him- or herself to speak very long phrasing well beyond his or her natural capacity.

Lack of control

Breathy tone or erratic use of the volume of the voice may result from a lack of control over the breathing. In this case the most frequent cause is where the ribs are allowed to collapse at the same time as the diaphragm ascends. It may also be due to insufficient muscular control over the diaphragm and ribs causing them to collapse hastily and produce a 'heavy attack' on the first words in any phrase, with the rest of the phrase trailing away.

Lack of power

The speaker frequently feels that he is incapable of producing a loud enough volume. This is attributable to the strength of attack when expelling the air. The muscles may be weak and under-developed.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 691