Voice Post

Nicolas Valdez
Nov 2 · 2 min read

Erik P.M. Vermeulen utilizes voice multiple times in his post on emerging tech and digital literacy in the blog Digital Diplomacy. Vermeulen begins his post with a recap of Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony in the U.S. House of Representatives and the EU. He mentions that he came to a “realization” that policymakers, bureaucrats, and political actors are out of touch with what he calls “the digital transformation”. Vermeulen mentions that this realization “came as something of a disappointment.”

Vermeulen’s prevalent and disconcerted tone shows the reader that he is invested in the outcome of said hearings. The inclusion of Vermeulen’s “disappointment” also lets the reader know what tone to expect throughout the whole post.

In the next paragraph, Vermeulen talks about his “conclusion.” The inclusion of this word informs the reader that Vermeulen has legitimacy and is informed on the subject. He talks about his discussions with policymakers and builds rapport with the reader by giving credence to his claims.

Vermeulen then shifts tone. The sentence “so, what happened” tells the reader that the writer will shift to an explanatory tone, laying out aspects of the store in a way to describe why he is disappointed. The sentence also lets the writer directly communicate with the reader. This direct communication continues the rapport built in the initial paragraph of the post, but this is more direct.

Vermeulen continues the tone shifts in the sentence “and this is where things got very complicated, very quickly.” The writer is again changing the tone of the post while also increasing its tempo. The clause “very complicated, very quickly,” indicates further explanation while signaling a continuation of the original, disappointing tone.

In the next paragraph, Vermeulen says, “It was like stepping into a time machine and we had suddenly gone back twenty or thirty years.” This sentence signals the writer’s reaction to the opposite party in his discussions on the intersection of tech and policy. Vermeulen’s reaction tells the reader why things had gotten complicated and the use of a simile comparing intransigent policy to a time machine guides the reader and promotes a clear image for the reader to grasp. It’s easy for the reader to associate with the writer.

Later in the post, Vermeulen brings up Mark Zuckerberg’s reaction to policy and says, “even if his timing and motives are suspicious, the change in rhetoric is striking.” The word suspicious helps in describing Vermeulen’s attitude toward Zuckerberg. This is a continuation of Vermeulen’s overall “disappointing” tone in the post. Zuckerberg being potentially untrustworthy begs the question, what information did Zuckerberg have that aided his change in rhetoric and why is he making these public statements now?

Vermeulen utilizes voice via tone and direct communication with his audience. This allows for clarity, conciseness, and a professional tone that gives authority to Vermeulen on the subject.

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