Cazden, Intro - pg. 24
For the midterm, you will need to know all about the larynx, and vocal folds, including signs of sickness, and what cigarette smoking does to the voice. Any comments, questions, and/ or confusions about this chapter? Please comment below!
Learning about the Larynx and Vocal folds in detail was very interesting. I learned a lot that I wasn’t aware of. I enjoyed learning about all the different ways the vocal fords accommodate our current situation. For example, whenever we hold our breath tightly the vocal folds squeeze together, which happens routinely whenever we swallow. However, the most interesting part to me was chapter 2. I enjoyed learning about the different things that we do in our everyday lives that cause harm to our vocal folds. For example, smoking is such a harmful thing for one’s voice. Since inhaling smoke is so hot, it traumatizes your voice. Although I don’t personally smoke, I have always noticed the differences in a smoker’s voice and a nonsmoker’s voice. Actually being able to learn why there is such a huge difference in their voices, I felt was very beneficial to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what was said about how everyone's vocal sound is unique as a fingerprint. It is just another way to prove how different all of us really are. We all develop our habits as a result from our individual life experiences. No ones voice is ever exactly the same as another because everybody's experiences and habits are unique to themselves.
ReplyDeleteI found the ways of protecting and moisturizing our voices interesting. I never knew how important it was to keep our throats moisturized and all the ways to do that like using humidifiers, ong showers, facial steam spas, and steam rooms. Reading about how effective air purifiers can be was was also informative. Lastly, I really liked learning about the vocal folds and larynx, as well as all the intricate parts of our bodies that help us to use our voices, and how even as babies we learn that the sounds we make cause others to respond in certain ways.
ReplyDeleteI noticed how that "glottal" sound we always discuss really comes from the glottis when it is being used or positioned incorrectly, which makes sense! I also got a much bigger understanding of how vital one's voice is to their life. I used to think the only people who needed to care for their voices were singers or actors, because i thought they were the only people whose voices could make or break them. After reading this, however, i have a very different opinion. Every single person, regardless of their occupation or requirements, depends so very much on their voice whether they realize it or not. The way we speak directly influences the relationships we have, how and what we obtain, and the way we are viewed as individuals. I now like to think of one voice as ones ultimate multi-purpose tool! I very much enjoyed this reading (;
ReplyDeleteJuliana Ratliff
ReplyDeleteI really feel that I will enjoy owning this book because I would love to become a better public speaker and a better singer. The most intriguing part to me was learning what the "adam's apple" actually was. I never knew what the little knot in our throats was. Now that I know it has a name to it I will be saying it everyday. If I would've known we start training our voices from a toddler, I would've made my mom enroll me in voice classes at 2 ! This reading was very informative on the proper usage and care of your voice.
Monique:
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to Cazden's explanation of vocal muscles, and how they can become damaged before you know it. It made me recognize how I really should be mindful of damaging habits like singing in smokey bars, or belting on the ends of my range. It's not worth damaging my voice.
If there's anything about myself I've wanted to change about myself in Voice this semester is my cigarette smoking! Of course I've known how horrible smoking is for the body, but after reading the section in this reading about smoking and its effects on the voice, I was even further convinced. I can't believe that I am deliberately doing something so horrible to MYSELF. I have decided to quit smoking for good!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about how everything in our lives shapes our voice. It is very interesting to me that everything from our personality to life experiences affects our voice and that is why everyone's voices are so vastly different. Also, I never realized how helpful humidity is for our voices. I have always looked at it in a negative light, but noting how good steam in for our voices in an interesting way to look at humidity! Also, I never realized that it could actually be quite harmful to sing in a smoky area. I guess singers don't necessarily think about that but inhaling other people's smoke can be just as dangerous to our voices.
ReplyDeleteI think learning about the way our voice works is cool. The way they air changes affects our voice is rather interesting. The air quality is an important part of voice so i found it makes sense to steer away from smoky areas
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to learn that the vocal chords are designed to be unconscious. I never knew that. They don'y send detailed messages to tell your brain that they are under stress. Instead they tell you by a cough or a tickle, I find that funny. Also, it is impossible to diagnose the vocal chords because so many things could have so many different treatments. Next time something is wrong with my voice I definitely wont ignore it.
ReplyDelete