Vocal but nonverbal elements of speech, like speed and volume, are referred to as:

The correct term for vocal but nonverbal elements of speech, such as speed and volume, is "paralanguage." Paralanguage encompasses all the vocal qualities that accompany spoken language but do not involve the actual words. This includes aspects such as the tone of voice, pitch, loudness, and speech rate, which convey meaning and emotion beyond the literal content of the words spoken.

Understanding paralanguage is key in communication, as it helps convey feelings and attitudes, plays a significant role in the interpretation of spoken messages, and can influence how a message is received by the listener. For example, a sentence spoken with a loud and fast tone may carry urgency or excitement, while the same sentence delivered slowly and softly could imply calmness or hesitation.

Other options like prosody, phonetics, and articulation have distinct meanings that are important in the study of language but do not specifically cover the broader range of vocal qualities included in paralanguage. Prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech; phonetics is the study of sounds in human speech; and articulation deals with the physical production of speech sounds.