Quotes List

This is my list of quotes for various expressive forms of speech. The idea is to use a superscriped letter in place of quotation marks as a means of telling a reader what manner dialog is spoken in. I’ve tried to cover many common modes of talking while using a corresponding letter for each style, since these are meant to be combinable (such as ^AE for excited angry, or ^QT for a thoughtful question).  I have given each style a description of characteristics that can be common for that type of speech, but since I am far from a skilled linguist, these are fairly crude. Any suggestions for improvements or additions would be greatly appreciated.

Updated 2013-08-13: Changed Rapid to Interfused, and added Robitic

A – Angry: Sharp/emphasized words, clenched teeth, spoken from back of throat.

B – Bawling: Speaking between sobs and sniffling, nasal tone.

C – Coughing: Delivered inside a cough (typically single word, or a group of words without pause).

D – Deadpan: Lacks inflection or emotion.

E – Excited: Increased speed and/or volume (often as the sentence progresses), key words are extended.

F – Flirtatious: deep pitch, whispered, smooth delivery.

G – Grave (as in delivery of bad news): Slow or halting delivery, solemn tone.

H – Harmonic: Musical or lilting pitch, rhythmic delivery.

I – Interfused: Words delivered with speed and lack of pauses.

J – Jovial: (Needs descriptions that are different than Excited)

K – Kaput (as in when speaking unfamiliar language): Distinct pauses between syllables and words, individual sounds drawn out as word is assembled behind it.

L – Laughed: Words delivered through or between laughter.

M – Monotone: Flat tone and pitch, steady rhythm.

N – Nutless (such as after a blow to the testicles): Extreme high pitch, weak.

O – Over-annunciated: Exaggerated syllables, loud and slow delivery.

P – Pained: Delivered through sighs, timed with shallow breaths, strained or weak tone.

Q – Questioning: Raise in pitch at end.

R – Robotic: Electronic tone, emphasis on every syllable.

S – Sarcastic: Extreme exaggeration or reduction of emotional tone, sneering tone.

T – Thoughtful (as in when chewing on glasses): Quiet or distracted tone, trailing off ending.

U – Unearthly (such as a ghost might sound): Shaky or cycling pitch, all words drawn out.

V – Voiceover: Deep and dramatic tone, emphasis on key words and phrases, clean annunciation.

W – Whiny: Through pursed lips, low or nasal tone, feeble delivery.

X – Other: Anything that defies classification.

Y – (STYLE NEEDED)

Z – Zoned out: Confused or affected delivery, drawn out and emphasized syllables, distant tone.