Why You Shouldn’t Lilt On Mic and In Real Life 4

Lilting–or lifting up the voice–is a vocal affectation predominantly associated with, like, Valley Girls, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own amongst twenty- and thirty-somethings, you know?

I do it, too. But I was unaware of the tendency until my voice-over coaches called me out on it. Lilting conveys uncertainty; and in voice over, the actor should always speak with confidence and authority.

This isn’t a concept exclusive to voiceover, though. I hear my colleagues and friends do it, and I can hear what it conveys. Because I’ve made a conscientious effort not to lilt in front of a mic (unless my character requires it) and when talking to colleagues and friends, my reads are becoming stronger and my day-to-day ramblings are exuding confidence.

How To Stop Lilting

Instead of lifting up the voice at the end of a sentence, end it on a down. Speak matter-of-factly. Ending script sentences on a down makes you sound like you know what you’re talking about; and it also presents the opportunity to use your vocal range (i.e. beginning a sentence or list with a more heady voice and stairstepping its parts down into a chest voice).

Def Poetry clip of Taylor Mali talking about the use of “like” and “you know”

Our friend and VO mentor Tom Chantler–who we can always rely on to highlight the lilt–introduced us to slam poet Taylor Mali. Mali has his finger on the pulse of lilting and easily put it into perspective with the poem featured in this Def Poetry Season Two clip.

I implore you, I entreat you, and I challenge you to speak with conviction; to say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it–because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker, it is not enough these days to simply “Question Authority.” You’ve gotta speak with it, too.