It was
his (Merlin’s) voice that fascinated me. Infinitely expressive, it served him
in any manner he wished. When he lashed, it could raise welts on a stone. When
he soothed, it could have shamed nightingales into silence. And when he
commanded, mountains and valleys exchanged places.
--Stephen R
Lawhead, Arthur
One of the
differences between a decent communicator and an individual who is powerfully
persuasive is found in the melody produced by their words and the tonality with
which those words are spoken.
Your words
have a melody. The question is this: Does this melody serve or deter from the
intent of your communication?
Listen to
the melody of the words of Merlin’s father, Taliesin, when he was first wooing
Princess Charis
...tell
me the word that will win you, and I will speak it. I will speak the stars of
heaven into a crown for your head; I will speak the flowers of the field into a
cloak; I will speak the racing stream into a melody for your ears and the
voices of a thousand larks to sing it; I will speak the softness of night for
your bed and the warmth of summer for your coverlet; I will speak the
brightness of flame to light your way and the luster of gold to shine in your
smile; I will speak until the hardness in you melts away and your heart is
free... (Stephen R.
Lawhead, Taliesin)
Taliesin’s
choice of words creates pictures, feelings, and sounds, surrounding Charis’
senses with his message of love. However, what if his tonality sounded like a
John Philip Sousa military march? The message would have been lost in the
incongruities.
Compare this
with Merlin’s words to the Knights of the Round Table when they were about to
go in search of the stolen Holy Grail
Hear, Men
of Britain, Valiant Ones … the Head of Wisdom speaks. Heed and take warning …
the battle is joined, and every man who would achieve the quest must face many
ordeals. Be not dismayed, neither be afraid, but face the trials to follow with
all forbearance, for the Swift Sure Hand upholds you, and the Holy Grail awaits
those who endure to the end. (Stephen R Lawhead’s, Grail)
Well chosen
words: words that elicit courage, strength, and valor. However, what if the
tonality of the spoken words sounded like something sung by The Carpenters?
Be not
dismayed (“They long to be”) or afraid (“close to you…”)
Listen to
the conversations taking place around you today. Each person’s words have a
peculiar melody: some are monotone, others utilize a few notes, and others
create melodies and harmonies that carry their words into the hearts and minds
of their listeners. I can have all the relevant facts at hand and choose fairly
precise words to convey these facts, but if the tonality conflicts with the
intent and words of my message, the message is muted.
Read the
following two quotes aloud.
Men speak foolishly of the beauty that
slays, though I believe such a thing may exist. But there is also a beauty that
heals, that restores and revives all who behold it. (Stephen R Lawhead, Merlin)
Morgian, rarest of beauty, frozen and
fatal, mistress of the sweet poison, the warm kiss of death. (Merlin)
You
intuitively knew that there is a specific sentiment behind each passage and changed
your tonality accordingly. Now, go back, reread each passage aloud: only this
time swap tonalities. You can hear the incongruity between the words and the
sentiment behind the words (via
tonality), can you not? You not only hear it, you feel it. So do those
with whom we are communicating.
Copyright,
Monte E Wilson, 2015
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