Not long ago I came across a metaphor which helped me to better understand the relationship between speaking and silence. The metaphor is that of a shadow. That is one of the ways the eye knows that things have shape. If it were not for the shadows, many things would look flat. In the same way as shadows provide shape, silence offers dimension and depth to words.
Words become real when they are bordered by silence.
Periods of silence provide the shadows and outlines which give our words perspective and depth. It's the same way with music. The pauses between the notes and how they vary are as important as the notes themselves. Jesus used silence in this way when responding to those who asked him what should be done with the woman caught in adultery. There are times when not speaking that your silence can communicate more than any words you might use.