vocalics

 Vocalics is an enormous part in our everyday communication with one another. It contributes to how we comprehend the meaning of a word, determined by how the person speaking it uses pitch, rate, tone, attitude, volume, pronunciation, pauses and more. It can change the meaning of a word, and change the emotion of an entire conversation.
To show the use of vocalics it must be shown in an auditory way so that examples can be pulled and listened to, for the full comprehension of each meaning. Above is a clip from the 2011 golden globe awards the was hosted by Ricky Gervais who is a well known comedian, actor, producer as well as many other titles. In this clip he plays with his own vocalics to play on a comedic monologue.
To start off his introduction to the night ahead he states "Its going to a night of partying and heavy drinking, ( he pauses) or a charlie sheen calls it, breakfast(pause)"  Ricky doesn't pause because he forgets what he is going to say next he, he pauses for a dramatic effect and to let his audience laugh. which in his job is just as important as the words he is saying.  As a comedian he knows what he's doing. When he pauses his audience will laugh not only because they think that what he is saying is funny but also to give them the time to laugh. Through-out this monologue he does this multiple times to initiate laughter.
When given his speech he also keeps it at a slower rate with clear pronunciation which is a key thing to use when giving speeches in big rooms and so that people understand what hes communicating with them. Another thing that can be heard in Ricky Gervias's speech is his use of a variety of pitches. He switches these up to stress on certain subjects such as when he speaks about charlie sheen, during which his pitch goes up "she was locked in a cupboard" pauses " and that was a Monday" his pitch goes to a much lower state and then back up when saying " what did he do for new years eve?" also going up to imply the question. after this he pauses again to give the audience a time to laugh.  His pitch goes through more ups and down when talking about the 3D movies of the year and when making fun of the "tourist" it drops to almost imply the disappointment in the movie. Especially heard in his statement "I haven't even see the tourist (higher pitch) pauses, and then lowers his pitch " who has?" with an implied questioning in his voice as a slight higher pitch at the end.

Without these changes in pitch, variations in attitude and simple but effective pauses, His  (first two minutes evaluated) speech would be boring and unsatisfactory for an entire room to listen to. ?It would lose the comedic effect that Ricky Gervais wants his audience to hear and laugh at.