Tone or Attitude: #

The tone is the attitude or feelings of the composer towards their audience and the subject matter. In oral presentations this may be carried by the voice, while in written communication it is conveyed by the choice of words and sentence construction. The following columns are varied attitudes that can be expressed.

Neutral Tones:

considered, restrained, monotonous, ironic, impartial, impersonal, deliberative, disinterested, apathetic, apolitical - - marked by an unnervingly flat emotional register, narrated by voices drained of feeling – even as extraordinary, terrible things happen.

Characters describe violence and sexual degradation with the same detached precision they bring to discussions of ordinary routines. That trademark blankness is difficult to capture on camera. Too little affect, and a performance risks becoming inert. Too much, and carefully calibrated irony gets lost in the visual mix. A disjuncture between authorial acceptance and audience rejection.

Reflective Tones

Sad, anguished, grieving, dejected, melancholic, mournful, plaintive,

Despairing, gloomy, saturnine, resigned, pessimistic, cynical, distressed,

contemplative, pensive, reflective, pondering, reminiscent, nostalgic, introspective, ruminative, brooding, vexing, rapt, fugue-state, maudlin,

longing, yearning, craving, wistful, pining, needy, supplicating, pleading, urgent, lustful….

|Critical|Warm|Deferential|Pensive

Condescending
blunt crawling resigned

Patronising direct
snivelling pessimistic

Pompous
polite craven cynical

Conceited
sincere obsequious distressed

Abusive
false toady grief-stricken

Dismissive modest
sycophantic contemplative

Derisive meek forelock tugging pensive

Judgmental affectionate brown nosing reflective

Denigrating enthusiastic
submissive pondering

Assertive
passionate consensual reminiscent

Insistent hyper-critical
begging nostalgic

Belittling
pleading introspective

Intimidating
Suppliant ruminative

Hectoring
supine brooding

Strident
obliging pining

Deprecating

Cold Bright
glowing distrusting

Demanding sympathetic
humourous morbid

Brutal Supportive
frivolous bored

Aggressive euphoric
vitalised uninterested

abrasive blissful
tedious Nihilistic

Defiant
caring satirical complacent

Argumentative Optimistic
keen smug

vitriolic Positive
arduous self-satisfied

sarcastic assuring
wonder apathetic

acerbic consoling
awe comatose

bitter warm
merriment negative

Combative solacing
zestful

Resolute
tender excited

Inflammatory sensitive
delightful

Intemperate Cheerful
mocking

Maniacal
sublime

Provocative

Pained

Alarmist

Exercises on Tone:

Tone as Attitude

Identify the tone or attitude of each of the following speakers:

a) “Get out of here! How dare you question my authority?”

b) Would you mind leaving the room and giving us some respite please?

c) “I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but I don’t think you have the ability to complete this course.”

d) “You’re despicable! You have the manners of a pig!”

e) “You and I both know that the government has completely failed to inspire its citizens. You are too intelligent to put up with this for long.

f) Of course the parliamentarians need another raise. Why everyone knows they are destitute. One look at their faces and you can tell how gaunt and emaciated they are.

g) Mr Jackson,

 My daughter tells me that you and other teachers call her Sarah.

Please note that her name is Zara. See that you call her that name in the future.

h) Dear Mr Robinson,
I should deem it an honour to be considered for the position of junior salesman in your establishment. I have always wished to work in a progressive organisation like yours and I assure you I will give every satisfaction.

i) “People are important to me” expressed the personnel officer signing the dismissal notices.

j) Mr Squeers is modest; he told us so – frequently.