Read Dialogues with Expression

Dialogue is the conversation between characters in a story or script. To read it with expression, you must first understand how each character feels. Look for clues in the words they use, the situation they are in, and any speech tags the writer has included.

Finding Emotion in Dialogue

• Speech tags tell you the emotion: "she whispered" = soft voice; "he shouted" = loud voice.
• Word choice reveals mood: short, clipped sentences often show anger or nervousness.
• Questions can be curious, nervous, excited, or demanding — the context tells you which.
• Exclamations show strong feeling — joy, fear, surprise, or anger.
• Repetition often means the speaker is insisting or trying to make a point.

Techniques for Reading Dialogue

• Give each character a slightly different voice so listeners can tell them apart.
• Match your volume to the character's situation: a secret is whispered; a warning is firm.
• Slow down for thoughtful or uncertain characters; speed up for excitement or panic.
• Pause naturally after a question before the response, as real conversations do.