Phyo Kyaw Week 12 - The Power of Voice
This revelation comes to me as a result of the flu I caught. I didn't realize how much I took for granted in terms of speaking ability until now. As a result of my sickness, my throat has been scratchy and my ability to talk has reduced drastically. Even saying a few words has become difficult. But it is through these struggles that I was able to appreciate my ability to be able to talk normally.
This made me truly appreciate having my own voice. Imagine all the deaf people out there who are unable to use their voice to truly communicate. The blessing I had taken for granted was something they did not have. As I lost my voice, I grew frustrated as I wanted to talk to my family and friends so bad, yet I just couldn't do it. This frustration is what taught me this valuable lesson about voice.
I remember my dad asking me something from across the house and when I tried to respond back with an audible tone, I failed. Again and again I tried, but nothing loud enough came from my mouth. By then, my throat had all but been worn out. Talking was already a struggle, let alone yelling.
Now this is just the literal aspect of our voices. Now what about the ability to be heard in a figurative aspect? Famous figures in today's society's voices can be heard quite easily due to the publicity they have. Social media has also made it easier to be heard. But that's celebrities. What about us normal people? We obviously do not have the same publicity they have. But does that mean we don't have a voice? I don't think so. I think we have our own voices that lack the same range as influential societal figures, but are still enough in our daily lives. The concept of voices is confusing and is still an ongoing debate inside my head. Image from Google
Hello! I liked the style of your blog, especially the repetition of “again and again” in your third paragraph. I think that for the concept of voices, it is a little bit difficult to describe people’s relationship with this weird vibrating box in our throats. Voice is powerful. Speech is powerful. But many people are apprehensive about using this part of themselves. Physically, it is more common than not for people to dislike the sound of their own voice, hating the intonations or the pitch, and I shared this sentiment. But that is partly because we are so used to the sound of our own voice as it comes from our heads and care less about the sound of other people’s voices as they come from their mouths. I think it is strange that we can be so unfamiliar with the sound of our own voice when people like ourselves hear it daily. Another thing is that metaphorically, people are afraid of their voice. In terms of stage fright or public speaking, people often cringe away at the idea of speaking in front of a crowd of people, thinking that their ideas and voice have no place in the conversation. It is something that all people struggle with but with effort and conditioning, I think that everyone has the capacity to use their voices to the fullest and be heard by those around them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we take our voices for granted. Not only do they help us communicate with each other, they create a shared community between all of us through language. I also sometimes wonder how hard it is for deaf people, who cannot hear their own voices, let alone others’. I try putting myself in their shoes, wondering how I would react if unable to communicate with others without using my voice. While sign language is an amazing revelation, the power of a voice can never be replaced. I also understand where you are coming from, because every time I talk to you in class, your voice seems raspy and hard to hear. I like how you connect your overall theme of the power of voices to how it impacts others through influence. For example, you mention celebrities holding more power over us because of their publicity. However, I feel that our power comes from a collective voice, and that is our purpose as “normal people.”
ReplyDeleteHi Phyo! I like the way you introduced this blog because I relate to that feeling, especially over the last few months when I have found myself sick more often than most flu seasons. It's important to note how we take almost everything for granted, including the ability to articulate our thoughts out loud and to communicate with those around us. Literally, our voices enable us to express ourselves, our opinions, and to connect with others. I agree with you in that some voices may seem more "powerful" than others, but everyone needs to use their voice to create a society where everyone feels heard and represented. However, I think it is also important to understand when silence matters, often celebrities' choice to stay silent on certain issues changes focus and creates attention toward issues that may not be as important. For example, with the current Israel invasion of Palestine, many people who have chosen to stay silent face scrutiny for their lack of advocacy for the hardships of the Palestinian people. On the contrary, some celebrities are scrutinized for their involvement in other issues. In any case, this raises a general reflection for all to evaluate the impact their voice can make and its importance. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey Phyo, I liked your blog on the power of voice. I think we constantly overlook how special it is to have a voice because we are so used to having a voice. To put this into perspective, imagine the last time you were sick and your nose was so stuffy that you couldn't breath. During this time we often reminisce on the times when we could breath clearly. I believe this is the same with voice. When we can't talk because of an itchy throat, we often think about when communicating with people was easy because we could talk. Now, think about deaf people who cannot hear people's voice and can't use it as a main way to communicate. Because of this, I feel like people should appreciate having a voice more. I also liked how you talked about voice in a figurative aspect. Having a voice in our society is important. It determines whether or not life can be easier in our society. Overall, I enjoyed reading your blog about how voice has power.
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