Vocal inflections (5)
I believe the answer is:
tones
'vocal inflections' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for tones that I've seen before include "Qualities of colour, music or speech" , "Told about the silly ass" , "Shades" , "Tints of colour" , "Qualities of people's voices" .)