Three Lines
A paired warmup for reading intonation and emotional subtext: a mini-dialogue of three statements where the first line is delivered in a made-up language. Participants orient based on how something is said, not the literal meaning.
Full description
Setup and Launch
Arrange the group in two lines facing each other to form pairs. Explain the goal: manner and intonation matter more than word content. Each dialogue has three short declarative lines; the first is delivered in a made-up language (gibberish). Only emotionally colored gestures are allowed (joy, indignation, dejection) — don't substitute speech with pantomime; work with voice and intonation.
How It Works
The pair's task is to create a clear emotional situation in three statements, relying on the partner's tone, posture, and gaze.
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First line (Performer A — gibberish) Performer A delivers a meaningless phrase in a made-up language, clearly setting attitude and mood through voice, timbre, pauses, posture, and gaze.
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Second line (Performer B — in English) Performer B responds with one statement, based on the intonation and behavior they read in the partner. No questions or negations; confirm and develop the established situation.
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Third line (Performer A — in English) Performer A completes the three-move sequence with one more statement, clarifying the relationship or context of the scene.
Example without gibberish: "Nice haircut. — My mom is getting married. — How time flies."
Key rules
First line — gibberish only; the next two — in your language.
All three lines are statements: avoid questions and negations.
Read your partner through intonation, posture, gaze; don't substitute speech with pantomime.
Work with your voice: change timbre, pauses, degree of confidence, and emotional state.
Context
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