Refers to the feeling or attitude conveyed through one's voice or choice of words, often implying an underlying emotion such as anger, sarcasm, or excitement.
He raised his voice angrily as he argued back.
I could sense anger in his tone.
He argued back, his tone growing stronger.
Her tone was so forceful that it was a bit intimidating.
語調 refers to the intonation or rhythm of one's speech, whereas 語気 refers to the emotional feeling or attitude behind the words, even though both are written with 語 and often overlap in use.
語気 is the emotional force or sharpness felt in someone's words, while 論調 is the overall argumentative stance taken in a discussion or piece of writing.
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and everyday contexts.
Compound of 語 (go, 'word' or 'language') and 気 (ki, 'spirit' or 'feeling'), literally 'word-spirit'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally conveys the idea of emotional tone in speech.