Bohemica Olomucensia

Spoken Expression Between Technique and Culture: From Posture to Orthoepy

This article examines the link between the voice technique and the speech culture in public and professional communication. While the spoken communication training is more common, systematic voice education remains mainly in artistic schools. The text connects speech culture, focusing on standard pronunciation, articulation, phrasing, and tempo, with voice training, developing breath support, posture, and resonance. It argues that the effective speech requires awareness of physiological processes underlying voice production: posture shapes breathing, breathing influences resonance, and both affect tempo, intelligibility, and listener perception. The mastery of the vocal technique supports communication goals, enhances credibility and reduces vocal strain, essential especially for teachers and other frequent speakers. However, the voice training outside artistic contexts faces barriers, including low instructor expertise, delayed introduction in schooling and discomfort with physical exercises. The article concludes that integration of the voice technique into speech culture education strengthens communicative effectiveness, vocal health, and the speaker's professional image.

Keywords: articulation; breathing; communication; physical posture; psychology; speech culture; voice training