How to Cry like a Herald

This is the handout I use for my class, "How to Cry like a Herald" (Shoshanah bas Nachman, Barony of Three Rivers, Calontir):

Voice projection is a matter of not straining the vocal cords, but tightening the diaphragm. The is the same technique used in singing. The idea is to sustain a tone with vigor, but not to exhaust your throat.

We will practice using this opening phrase for general camp announcements:

“Oyez, oyez! My lords and ladies!”

Enunciation is aided by these techniques:

1) Drop the r-coloration from vowel-r combinations, as is done in upper-class British pronunciation: “Lords” should be pronounced as if it were spelled “luhhds”, and so on. This is because the r-sound does not do well when held at length.

2) Emphasize consonants at the beginnings of syllables: “Ladies” should be pronounced as if it were spelled “lay - deez”. This helps with understanding words spoken at a distance.

3) Vowel clusters (diphthongs) should have the first sound lengthened, with the second sound short: “Ladies” should be pronounced (if spoken slowly) as “lehh-i-dies”, not as “le-iii-dies”; “oyez” should be pronounced “awww-i-yehhh-i”, not as “aw-iii-ye-iii.” This is because diphthongs are understood when the first sound is emphasized, not when the second sound is. (The word “oyez” is particularly good to warm up your throat with, making it an ideal starter for a heraldic cry.)

4) Do not be a lighthouse: Pick a direction for maximum effect (downwind if possible) and have at it, without any change in direction. If advisable, repeat your message in another direction.