Which aspect of voice is primarily affected by emotions in performance?

Emphasis is primarily affected by emotions in performance because it involves the way certain words or phrases are highlighted or stressed during delivery. When an actor experiences genuine emotions, these feelings influence how they emphasize specific parts of their dialogue. For instance, a character expressing anger may emphasize certain words to convey intensity, while a character expressing sadness may soften their emphasis to reflect vulnerability. This variation in emphasis helps to portray the underlying emotions and intentions of the character, making the performance more authentic and engaging for the audience.

Clarity, while important, is more about how well the words are articulated and understood, which may not directly correlate with emotions. Pitch and volume can also be influenced by emotional states; however, they are more technical aspects related to vocal modulation rather than a direct means of conveying emotional nuance through emphasis. Thus, emphasis stands out as the aspect of voice that most directly connects with the emotional content of a performance.