We've all heard voices that sound extremely whiney or "twangy." Listening to them can give us the same feeling as hearing fingernails on a chalkboard. We want to cover our ears! What you're reacting to is excessive nasality.

There are three nasal consonants [m], [n] and [ng]. They're beautiful sounds and we use them constantly as we speak. The problem comes when they're produced with too much strain and tension. Think of the title character in The Nanny television program. There's nasality at it's worst!!

Executives, speakers and broadcasters and other who use their voices professionally aren't exempt from this problem. And it isn't only irritating, it can erode your credibility and make some people (especially women) sound younger than they are.

To reduce excessive nasality, you need to understand a little bit about how those sounds are made. Don't worry, I'll keep it simple!

The soft palate is a membrane from which the uvula hangs. When you breathe, the soft palate is lowered so that air from your nose can get into your lungs and back out again. When you speak most sounds, the soft palate lifts, closes off the nasal passage and air moves out through the mouth. However, when you make the three nasal sounds the soft palate lowers and the air comes out through the nose.

Let me show you. Hum for a moment. (You're making the [m] sound.) Your mouth is closed so the air is being released through your nose. Now, pinch your nose closed. See how the sound immediately stops? If you had said [e] and closed your nose, it wouldn't have made any difference because the soft palate is lifted and the air is being released through your mouth.

To feel the changes and movement in the back of your mouth, try this exercise.

• Say [ah] Then say [ng] (as in the word rung). Don't move your jaw. Can you feel the shift? Try it again. This time sustain the sounds – [ahhhngggahhhngggahhhnggg]. If you look in a mirror you can also see the movement. Make sure that no air is escaping through your mouth on the [ng] even though your mouth is open. If you're making it properly, the [ng] will also stop when you pinch your nose.

The civics class agreed that the illegal deeds were outrageous.

Say it again, but this time pinch your nose closed as you say it. Did you feel any tension or pressure? If so, you have some degree of nasality. The greater the pressure, the greater the nasality. You felt pressure because, although the sentence contains no nasal consonants, the soft palate isn't tightly closed and air is trying to escape through the nose. Pinch your nose closed again and try saying the sentence in a way that avoids that pressured feeling.

Excessive nasality most frequently occurs when the soft palate is lazy, the jaw and tongue are too tense and the mouth isn't open wide enough. Let's try this exercise.

• Say can with as much nasality as possible. Push the tip of your tongue against your lower teeth, tighten your jaw and hump up the back of your tongue. Can you hear how whiney it sounds?
  
  
• Repeat, but this time RELAX. Let your tongue just lie on the floor of your mouth. Drop your jaw. It's much easier and a more pleasant sound. Try this tension/release exercise with other, similar, words like man, van, Dan, jam, etc.

• Keep the back of your tongue low and your jaw relaxed as you say the following:
  
  Have an apple for lunch, Dan, but mind your manners.
  We ate pancakes, pineapples and black beans at the campfire.
  The English Patient was a wonderfully romantic movie.
  You'll make my mother angry if you sing off tune.
  I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch. [Roseanne Barr]

*****Candice M. Coleman, Ph.D. uses presentations, coaching and learning resources to help business executives and others have more presence, influence and authenticity in their communication. She can be reached by phone at 314-621-9228 or on the Web at www.SayItWell.com.

© Say It Well! Inc. 2002. [Permission is granted to reprint this article provided that complete bio and contact information are included and that a copy of the publication is sent to: Say It Well! Inc., 1822 Hickory Street, St. Louis, MO 63104.]