Paralanguage

Verbal elements of speech that communicate variations of meaning and emotion. The pitch, volume, and intonation of speech can affect how one understands a message. That is why the reading of a transcript of a speech, trial, radio program, and the like is no substitute for hearing the speech patterns that convey nuances of meaning. Paralanguage plays a very important role in human speech. Paralanguage comprises sounds that sometimes do not have a written form. Examples of paralanguage include whistling, shushing, and hissing, as well as speech changes, such as the quality of the voice or the speed with which we speak. Other examples of paralanguage include sighing, crying, and sneezing. The tone of voice plays a big role in how we communicate.