How to Stop Mumbling and Speak More Clearly

Mumbling occurs when you speak in a very soft voice or with unclear pronunciation, making it hard for others to understand you and often causing them to ask you to repeat yourself. It's an annoying habit, but you might already know how to speak clearly in certain situations. Perhaps you've had a phone conversation with poor reception or spoken with someone hard of hearing—during these times, you likely spoke louder and more clearly without even realizing it. Can you intentionally speak like that and make it a habit? Try the following tips to help you out.

Stand up straight. Even if you're feeling nervous, good posture will make you feel more confident. Good posture also opens up your airway, which makes your breath stronger.

• Sit comfortably so you can sit up straight. When seated, engage your core and extend your spine upwards.

Avoid stress and anxiety. Many people speak quickly when they're feeling insecure or nervous. Try pretending that you're not nervous, as this can help you speak at a normal pace.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Don't worry if you make an error because everyone does at some point; just correct yourself and continue. It's a skill, and some people are very good at it. If you need practice, remember that it's a skill you haven't perfected yet, but one you can absolutely learn.

Listen carefully. Pay attention to people who speak well, such as broadcasters on radio or TV, and observe their pronunciation, speaking pace, and other aspects.

Practice. Use a recorder to capture your voice, or you can use a microphone to record on your computer. Then, listen to the recording and pay attention to unclear sections, quiet phrases, and so on.

• You can practice pronunciation by reading aloud and pronouncing each word slowly and clearly. If you notice yourself mumbling, repeat the sentence.
• Practice some vowels that require you to open your mouth more when speaking.

Record a few sentences. You can use tongue twisters to practice. Play back the recording to check for pronunciation mistakes and miscommunications, then try to correct these errors by practicing more.

Open your mouth wider when speaking. You will speak very quietly if your teeth and lips are tightly closed.

Pay attention to your pronunciation. When speaking English, be mindful to stop the airflow when pronouncing consonants like 't' and 'b', and distinguish between the pronunciation of consonants and vowels.

Slow down your speech. Speaking too quickly is a typical sign of nervousness, but it can make it hard for listeners to understand you.

Speak louder. Try to speak a little louder. By doing so, you'll naturally use more breath, slow down, and enunciate more clearly.

Speak with intonation. You need to raise your voice at the end of a question and lower it at the end of a statement. Also, be sure to emphasize important syllables and words. Try to exaggerate your intonation, as if you were reading a book to a child and acting out the emotions.

Support your diaphragm. Use your abdominal muscles to assist in pushing air out when speaking. By doing this, you'll speak more clearly, even without raising your volume. Place your hand on your abdomen just below the ribs, and make sure you feel the muscles move as you speak.

Sing. You don’t need to sing for anyone, just sing alone while taking a shower or when you’re in the car. Singing will help you train your voice, get used to speaking loudly, and also improve your breathing, pronunciation, enunciation, and pacing.

Shout out loud. Don’t scream, yell, or raise your pitch too high. Instead, use a normal pitch and see how loud you can speak. Joining a cheering session at a sports event or speaking over loud music are great opportunities to practice. Or you can simply close the door and try it out. Remember to control your breath while practicing.