Day 11: An Overview on Skinner

As mentioned on the basic information page, Edith Skinner’s vocal training techniques is extremely similar to Kristin Linklater's technique. This makes sense because Linklater was a student of Skinner’s. Skinner believes the production of voice involves coordinating breathing, vibrations, and resonation. A good voice is supported by the use of diaphragmatic and intercostal muscles.

Skinner also believes there are four essential components of voice and speech. The first is the excitor, which is the force that triggers the production of voice. The respiratory muscles help regulate air which is needed to produce the voice. She believes if you are using your breath economically, you will have rhythmical endurance and good tone. The next is the vibrator, or vocal cords, which produces sound waves with breath. This is involuntary, but if done with relaxation, you will have a smooth tone preventing attacked vowel and diphthong sounds. The third is the resonators which reinforces and amplifies the sound waves. This involves mental and emotional response of the speaker as well. The final one is the articulators which helps shapes the breath. There are four movable articulators including the tongue, the lips, the lower jaw, and the soft palate. The four immovable articulators are teeth, gum ridge, hard palette, and the throat.

She then further breaks down the sounds of spoken English. A vowel sound is made with an open, uninterrupted flow of air, flowing through only the mouth. A diphthong sound is made by the movement of the articulators that can be seen and felt by the speaker. It is a blend of two vowel sounds into a single phonetic unit. A triphthong sound is the blending of three vowel sounds to form one sound made of one syllable. A consonant sound is made with a stopped breath, can be voice or voiceless, and can be made through the mouth or through the nose. Finally, an affricate sound is comprised of a stop-plosive sound and fricative consonant blended together closely to sound like a single sound.

While Skinner has some exercises listed in Speak with Distinction, there is a strong focus on the International Phonetic Alphabet and the text itself. My challenge for the week is to share more of the inspirational /key pieces from my research.