modulation
modulation — noun
1. the deliberate adjustment of the pitch, loudness, or rhythm of your voice so tha
the deliberate adjustment of the pitch, loudness, or rhythm of your voice so that what you say sounds more expressive or has a stronger emotional effect
Joaquín used subtle modulation of his voice to keep the audience engaged throughout his speech.
collocation: subtle modulation of voice
Professional voice actors train for years to master the modulation needed for different animated characters.
The therapist's calm voice modulation helped the frightened child feel safe during the session.
Élise's voice modulation shifted from a quiet whisper to a powerful roar during her dramatic monologue.
- inflection
focuses specifically on grammatical or tonal pitch changes in speech, often unconsciously made
- intonation
describes the overall rise and fall of the voice across a sentence rather than deliberate adjustments
- pitch variation
more technical and narrower; refers only to changes in highness or lowness of sound
文法句型
modulation + of + noun
subtle/voice modulation
用法筆記
Often used in the context of public speaking, acting, and broadcasting. Countable uses (e.g. 'a modulation') refer to a specific instance of voice change.
常見錯誤
2. a small but deliberate change made to a plan, system, process, or behaviour in o
a small but deliberate change made to a plan, system, process, or behaviour in order to improve it or make it suitable for new conditions
The chef made a subtle modulation to the recipe by reducing the salt and adding fresh herbs.
collocation: subtle modulation to
After staff feedback, the company introduced a modulation of its remote-work policy for better flexibility.
Bao carefully tested each modulation of the experiment's parameters before recording the final results.
The committee discussed a modulation of the school timetable to give students longer breaks between classes.
- adjustment
broader and more common in everyday use; does not carry the nuance of fine-tuning
- fine-tuning
more informal and implies very precise, small-scale corrections
- modification
can refer to larger or more structural changes than 'modulation' typically suggests
文法句型
modulation + of + noun
a modulation in + noun
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific instance of change ('a modulation in policy'). Uncountable when referring to the general act of adjusting ('requires careful modulation').
常見錯誤
3. the process by which a living organism adjusts the level or activity of a biolog
the process by which a living organism adjusts the level or activity of a biological function, such as hormone secretion or immune response, in reaction to internal or external signals
The modulation of hormone levels is essential for maintaining the body's natural sleep-wake rhythm.
collocation: modulation of hormone levels
Researchers are studying the modulation of immune responses to develop more effective treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Regular exercise influences the modulation of blood sugar levels in patients managing Type 2 diabetes.
The modulation of gene expression allows cells to adapt quickly when environmental conditions change suddenly.
- regulation
more general and common; implies maintaining within set boundaries rather than actively adjusting
- adjustment
simpler and less technical; preferred in everyday contexts over 'modulation' for biological processes
文法句型
modulation + of + noun (biological process)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in formal scientific or medical writing. The countable form ('a modulation in immune activity') appears in research papers but is rare in general English.
常見錯誤
4. a deliberate move within a piece of music to a different tonal centre, often use
a deliberate move within a piece of music to a different tonal centre, often used to create a fresh mood, heighten emotion, or add structural variety
The sudden modulation from C major to A minor gave the song a beautifully melancholic feeling.
grammar pattern: modulation from [key] to [key]
Cyrus admired how the jazz pianist used a rapid modulation to surprise the audience mid-solo.
Many pop songs use a modulation in the final chorus to build excitement just before the ending.
Gita analysed the modulation between the second and third movements of the symphony for her music theory exam.
- key change
the more common everyday term for non-musicians; 'modulation' is the formal music-theory term
- tonal shift
broader; can describe any change in tonal centre, not always a classical modulation
文法句型
modulation + from + key + to + key
a sudden modulation
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific key change ('a dramatic modulation from G to D'). Uncountable when referring to the general technique ('Modulation is a common device in classical sonatas').
常見錯誤
5. a method of transmitting information by altering a property — such as frequency,
a method of transmitting information by altering a property — such as frequency, amplitude, or phase — of a carrier wave that carries the signal over a distance
Frequency modulation provides better sound quality than amplitude modulation for music radio broadcasts.
collocation: frequency modulation / amplitude modulation
Modern Wi-Fi networks use sophisticated quadrature amplitude modulation to transmit data at very high speeds.
Yasmin learned about pulse-code modulation in her telecommunications engineering course at the university.
The satellite relies on phase modulation to send clear signals across thousands of kilometres without interference.
- encoding
broader; refers to any method of converting information into a signal, not specifically carrier-wave variation
文法句型
modulation + of + noun (signal/carrier wave)
frequency/amplitude modulation
用法筆記
Technical term used in engineering and telecommunications. Often appears as part of compound nouns: 'frequency modulation (FM)', 'amplitude modulation (AM)', 'phase modulation (PM)'. These compound forms are uncountable.