When an adult or older child cries, people may respond differently to them. For instance, let’s say a grown man is sobbing uncontrollably at a table in a quiet restaurant. More than likely, people will not respond to the man, they will instead continue eating their dinner, maybe over conversation about the annoying, weeping man. This is an instance where the voice can be ignored, and no response is given to the man’s voice.
Although this next example is very unlikely, it could happen. If the same sad man irritates another man at a different table, the irritated man may respond by using a loud, coarse voice, and say “shut up” or “call someone who cares.” The sad man could get even more upset and use his now furious voice to shout back “you and me, out side, now!” The other man responds back “you’re on” and gets up with the intent to strike. This vocal problem demonstrates how one voice can react to another in a back and forth continuous motion until conflict is resolved either by voice of reason or by fist of fury.
A warm compassionate voice is much more effective when dealing with crying, and will produce a less violent reaction. What if a tenderhearted person was to go up to the man? She’d probably bring him a tissue and try to console him using her soothing voice, asking the man why he is crying or if she can help him to stop crying. The man might stop crying and answer her questions because he now feels at ease by her gentle voice, or he might continue crying because he is truly that sad. So, the woman will either stay until the man is more at ease, or she may feel that she can do no more to help the man and walk away.
At times, the voice can be used negatively to deceive listeners. In fact, “a voice is easy to change. As a matter of personal identity it is easier to change, indeed, than one’s face” (289). Because it is so easy to change the tone and sound of a voice, it is easy to create an action that calls for immediate reaction from another person.
For example, a woman and man have been dating for a year or so, but the relationship is getting unsteady. The woman uses her voice to deceive the man by announcing her pregnancy, which she knows, is false. The manipulated tones of her voice are insecure and timid. The man reacts supportively, and through discussion they decide to work out their problems and start a family. The problem with this discussion is the woman is using her voice to create a situation and the man is using his voice to solve the situation. The woman’s words are whinny, close together, and almost accusatory. She knows how to manipulate her voice to sound alarmed and terrified. The man’s words, in return, are sympathetic, spaced apart, and almost apologetic. He has no idea her actions have manipulated him to react to a false, life-changing, situation.
Now, let’s say the same couple in the same situation of being on rocky grounds is faced with another type of vocal deception. The man is tired of the relationship. He wants to break-up, but doesn’t want to be the one to do it. The woman is head over in heals in love with him, and breaking up is an absurd idea. The man decides to deceive the woman by announcing his false affair. The tone of his voice is cocky yet paltry. The woman reacts non-supportively, and through screaming and yelling, and a little porcelain throwing, she decides to leave him. The problem with the argument is that the man uses his voice to create an action, and the woman simply reacts vocally and somewhat violently. The man’s words are quiet and sparse, while the woman’s are fierce, loud, and sharp. She has just been tricked into a break-up by means of his deceiving voice.
The voice can also be used to create a more positive reaction. In addition to distorting the voice by means of deceit, the voice can be distorted by means of diversion. It is simple to change the sound of a voice, which is why people use their voices as a humorous device. For example, if a person were to start to make the sounds of a monkey, the natural reaction from listening viewers would be to laugh. Monkey woman purposely distorted her voice for the soul purpose of entertaining people. Who wouldn’t laugh at a woman who uses her voice to screech, whoop, and holler about in broad daylight?
Besides using humorous sounds to distort the voice, a person can also use humorous tones in his words. In fact, a comedian can make a living out of using his voices to create a positive reaction from his listeners. He is able to get this reaction from his audience because his tone of voice is vibrant, boisterous, and inviting. His words are clumped together in one continuous sound then separated by a somewhat brief pause of silence. It is during this silent moment that the audience reacts with laughter, and the comedian can take a breath.
There are many different ways a voice can be used, depending how the tone and sound of it are altered. A voice can create a primal action and reaction, such as the baby crying; an emotional action and reaction, such as the couple; or a social action and reaction, such as the crying man in the restaurant, the monkey woman, and the comedian. Through voice, a person can verbally communicate, manipulate an action, and create a reaction. So, I guess one could say it is through voice that virtue is defined.