Self-talk vs. Other People’s Voices

The voice you hear inside your head, whether it is your own voice or someone else’s (even imaginary or generic) voice.

Actual Content

We put less emphasis on content since the words you use are not as important as the form in which you express them. But the syntax your choose for your words can describe a lot of your internal experience.

Emotional Expression

The emotion is obvious through the voice; an angry voice and a sexy voice do not sound the same.

Volume

How high, how low, how strong a voice is – a weak voice doesn’t cause as much effect as a strong voice.

Tonality

The tonality of your voice.

Tempo / Speed Of Speech

The tempo or speed of your voice.

The Source Location

From which point in space does the voice originate?

Harmonic / Disharmony

Is it a pleasant “rhythmic” voice or is the speech full with breaks and “umm” or “ehh?” Yes, we do that on the inside as well.

Regular / Irregular

Hearing Dracula’s voice or Clinton’s voice is not equal. Does the voice has an irregular distracting quality or is it “normal”?

Inflections

This one is also related to content and context – In which points of the text does the voice change quality? Is there a reason?

Length / Duration

For which periods of time do you hear that voice? Does it use long sentences or short ones?

Key Words

Also related to content, these are key words, kind of digital “anchors,” that trigger an emotional reaction in you. For example, for many people the syntax “nine eleven” drives a whole set of very strong emotions. It would be a different reaction for a New York citizen and a Taliban militant…