People-Watching as an Art for Authors – Pt.10

Part Ten: Gait, Voice and Speech

Gait. There are both qualitative and quantitative features to a person's gait or walk. Among the latter are such characteristics as:

• length of stride,

• speed,

• definiteness of direction,

• elasticity,

• weight and noise

• regularity and changeability

Among the qualitative characteristics are such gaits as:

• bobbing

• mincing

• gliding

• plodding

• tripping

These are of lesser importance, except as they tell us something about the person's general energy level.

Voice and Speech. A man's voice, how he uses it and how much contribute to the ways he expresses himself. His voice may be:

• soft or loud

• dull or sharp

• shrill

• nasal

• hoarse

• smooth

• melodious

• rapid

• slow

• constant or variable

• marked by uneven, unnatural accentuation

He may be loquacious or taciturn, speak often or only as circumstances warrant. He may have a rich or meager vocabulary, and may be excessively fond of certain words, expressions or quotations (these should be noted). Frequent pauses may indicate confused or slow mental processes. He may stammer, lisp or use frequent interjections. He may speak clearly and fluently, or he may tend to wander and lose his point. These are some of the mannerisms of speech that the observer should be alert to detect.

Coming in Part Eleven: The Observer – Stereotypes and Cues for the Observer