The Power of Voice: It's Not Just What You Say...

What does your voice reveal about you – and what does it do to the people listening?

Our voices carry far more than words. Within milliseconds, the way someone speaks can tell us something about how they feel, whether they are interested in us, how confident they are – even whether they are trying to encourage or control us. And these subtle signals can change how we feel and behave in return.

In this talk, Professor Silke Paulmann explores the science of the human voice and what her research reveals about its power to shape social interaction. Discover how tiny changes in tone can affect whether children want to talk to their teachers, whether we feel understood and connected to another person, and how willing we are to cooperate or open up.

From classrooms and healthcare to leadership and everyday conversations, we’ll explore why how we say something can sometimes matter just as much as what we say – and what happens when we start paying attention to the voices around us, including our own.

The event is FREE but please book your place in advance via the Science Festival event page HERE

Silke Paulmann studied English Linguistics, American Literature and Media at the Universities of Paderborn, Germany, and Groningen, The Netherlands. Her PhD work on brain processes underlying emotional tone of voice processing was conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany. She obtained her PhD in Cognitive Sciences from the University of Potsdam in 2006. Silke then held a position at the Max Planck Institute as a postdoctoral research fellow and, in 2007, received a postdoctoral research fellowship award from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), allowing her to join the Neuropgragmatics and Emotion Lab at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She joined the Department of Psychology in September 2009 and has held multiple leadership roles since, including Director of Research and Head of Department. She currently serves as the Executive Dean of the Science and Health Faculty. Her current research focuses on how emotional, motivational, and attitudinal voice signals shape emotions and reactions. Silke is also interested in conducting work around using voice signals as biomarkers. She frequently works with external partners in applied settings, including teaching, health care, and parenting contexts. Silke also provides voice awareness training for diverse audiences. For example, for more information on how "teacher voices shape classroom atmosphere", please visit: https://www.tone4you.co.uk/.

Further Chelmsford Science Festival events, including paid events, can be found at the festival page HERE

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