Intonation

Besides having a higher pitch, a feminine voice also involves a wider pitch range (146 Hz vs. 82 for masculine), see pitch chart. So, in addition to raising your pitch, you need to be more expressive by moving your pitch more, with higher highs. Thus, it is very important that your target pitch is comfortable, to be able to move your pitch even higher during conversation. But don't overdo your pitch movement! Just bring out the meaning a little more than you normally do. Here are ways to shape your pitch movement:

• Move your pitch smoothly, like rolling hills rather than sharp peaks.
• Blend or connect each sound with the next sound.
• Slide into higher pitches to avoid voice breaks and hard voice onsets.
• End on a slightly higher pitch at the ends of sentences when the meaning allows it.

Intonation exercises

Facts

When we stress important words in a sentence, we naturally make those words higher and longer. Feminine speech makes those words even higher and longer than masculine speech does.

We naturally move our pitch more when we show emotion such as excitement, happiness, fear, or frustration.