I use to hate canadians for saying "eh?"

But it's probably the way they speak. It's just how some people say "no?" at the end of conversations.

Linwood is an old pro, hasn't been around this year...but his post reminded me of a little known sub topic of copywriting, used by big money pros (although some come by it naturally). This is the use of vocalics in copy.

Now, this may get a bit deep for the newbie, but I'll keep it simple, eh?

Vocalics (aka Paralanguage) is a study of the words made by the voice. I guess
as opposed to the mind, although there is a lot of subvocalization taking place. Here is what the wiki folk say:

Paralanguage, also known as vocalics, is a component of meta-communication that may modify meaning, give nuanced meaning, or convey emotion, by using techniques such as prosody, pitch, volume, intonation, etc. It is sometimes defined as relating to nonphonemic properties only. Paralanguage may be expressed consciously or unconsciously.

In copy we can often see this in the form of suprasegmentals, the linguistical rhythms of alliteration, consonance, assonance and onomatopoeia.

Command, Control and Conquer (a headline from a sales letter) is one such example, and Shakespear had many of note:

Friends, romans & countrymen, lend me your ears.

These literary linguistic devices are used more in poetry than in copy, but many a grand poet was/is able to EVOKE emotion in the reader, which should be the aim for many pieces of persasive copy, shouldn't it?

We are routinely exposed to these with our online media, podcasts, and videos. Video adds the extra nuance of body language, which can be very persuasive too. But outside of video copy, those who are writing for the reader or listener (especially) would benefit from a sound knowledge and use of vocalics.

In writing, things like tone, tempo, time and nuances such as sarcasm or irony are hard to get across, the cause for many a flame war on forums.

It has been suggested by many a great copywriter, you should read your copy outloud, or better yet, have someone read it to you. You get to HEAR what it sounds like and this listening technique will almost INSTANTLY improve your copy as you note the vocalics of it.

Anyhow, it is an interesting subject for those that want to get it.

Not basic stuff. Listen to Tony Robbins' pitch on youtube for his new 2022 training with your eyes closed [Tony has too many hidden things in the video] but listen to hear how he masters vocalics, setting you up with TONE and taking you to action with pitch.

GordonJ

The rhythm of language is an evocative soopahpowah, which is why most people know the lyrics to songs don't mattah an' can't quote the speeches changed history.

Nachrl flow is hypnotic, like waves beatin' on a shore.

Or peeled bananas slapped 'pon the asses of dancin' girls by the innuendo merchants of the damned.

Main thing is: tone & mood are all-important in any kinda dialog stuffs.

Are you rousin' people to actschwaahn with big nooz they gotta go grab?

Or lullin' 'em along all sweeto till you can dish 'em their speshl treato?

As for Canadians, ain't it real irritatin' in the store when they ask whethah their pet moose can lick your hair as you selectin' choice zucchini?

I endeavor to be polite always by remarkin' sumthin' like hey, as a natchrl animyool musself, for sure I wanna lick my tongue ovah plenty stuff I love, but I have the advantage of naht bein' a weirsdy quadruped gaht frickin' trees growin' out its face, so can you mebbe keep Antler Fiend Nostril Beast on a leash till I dun slectin' my favo veg?

This has only happened like about five times, so I don't wanna diss Canadians as a species, but what I would ask is ... why a moose evry time?

C'mon, surprise me.

Dream Scenario ...

Princess is bendin' ovah to select a choice zucchini from outta the slecshn when unusually tactile sniffin' makes itself known about her posterior in a way suggests unwanted Canadian quadruped activity.

She turns to flare her eyes at the all-too-familiar mystery beast.

Only ... it is a frickin' giraffe.

"We figured we owed you," says a guy in a checked shirt, his hands gripping the giraffe's leash with a noticably French accent. "We collected hard for a dog, but the guys wanted to say sorry so bad we raised enough for three giraffes and a wildebeest."

From behind the racks of vegetables before Princess's gaping jaw, more burly quasi-parisians pop like zits.

"The two other giraffes are waiting outside the store," says one. "And they really love having their bellies tickled."

A guy more beard than guy says, "I gave two thousand dollars to put things straight with you, Missy -- but they had to shoot the wildebeest on the flight over from Africa."

Three guys so disturbingly unalike they were clearly part of the same extended family pitched in with the clincher: "That giraffe for sure loves you in a way no moose ever would. Let us pick up the tab for your zucchini."

Yeah, so ... like waves beatin' on a shore, them dream scenarios ...

Basically all the cultures have their national peculiarities when they ar talking to someone. I prefer not to pay attention to such details, nevertheless sometimes they might sound irritating. I try not to warn these people not to do like that, because I understand that they just got used to use such phrases or maybe words. It's okay and we have to perceive other cultures as we perceive our culture. We should understand that there are no similar people, all of us are different and this person thinks that it's okay to use such phrases. Just don't concentrate on such minor things in order not to harm your mental health.