The Czech composer Janacek (1854 to 1928) has a unique and immediately recognisable musical style. Part of this uniqueness is derived from the fascination he had for human speech. He felt much could be learnt about people by paying attention to how they spoke and he used musical notation to record the inflections, contours and rhythms of their conversations. Unsurprisingly, many of the melodies used in his compositions are influenced greatly by the notes that he made.

We too can benefit from cultivating a fascination for human speech. Often we struggle with issues and problems because we become boxed in by the way we are talking about them. The speech we use dictates not only our understanding of issues, but also how we feel about them and this can sometimes hinder the ways in which we attempt to address them.

To free our thinking from the constricting chains of our speech, listen carefully to the speech of others and yourself. Listen not only to the words but also to the way in which they are spoken. How do people sound whilst they are talking about an issue? What mood or attitude does the inflection and phrasing of their speech imply? When are they impassioned and engaged and when are they apathetic and disengaged? When are they certain and when are they questioning or hesitant? When do they speed up and when do they slow down?

Listening to not only what people say but also how they say it will give us insights into the attitudes and feelings that lie behind their words. These insights will enrich our thinking and enhance our ability to address the problems we are discussing.

To listen to a string quartet by Janacek click Here.

To find out more about the author click Here.