Sotto voce

Sotto voce (/ˈsɒtoʊ ˈvoʊtʃi, -tʃeɪ/,^[1]^[2] Italian: [ˈsotto ˈvoːtʃe]; literally 'under the voice')^[3]^[4] means intentionally lowering the volume of one's voice for emphasis. The speaker gives the impression of uttering involuntarily a truth which may surprise, shock, or offend. Galileo Galilei's (probably apocryphal) utterance "Eppur si muove" ("And yet [the Earth] moves"), spoken after deciding to recant his heliocentric theory, is a legendary example of a sotto voce utterance.^[5]

Uses

Law

In law, "sotto voce" on a transcript indicates a conversation heard below the hearing of the court reporter.^[6]

Drama, literature, and rhetoric

In drama, literature, and rhetoric, sotto voce is used to denote emphasis attained by lowering one's voice rather than raising it, similar to the effect provided by an aside. Also similar to an aside, sotto voce can be used to express a character's thoughts out loud. For example, in Chapter 4 of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë uses the term sotto voce to describe Mrs. Reed's manner of speaking after arguing with Jane:

'I am not your dear; I cannot lie down. Send me to school soon, Mrs. Reed, for I hate to live here.'

'I will indeed send her to school soon', murmured Mrs. Reed, sotto voce; and gathering up her work, she abruptly quitted the apartment.
— Jane Eyre^[7]

References

^ Publishers, HarperCollins. "The American Heritage Dictionary entry: sotto voce". www.ahdictionary.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
^ "SOTTO VOCE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
^ Brown, Emily Freeman (2015). A Dictionary for the Modern Conductor. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 319. sotto voce. (It., lit. "under the voice.")
^ Harnsberger, Lindsey C. (1997). Essential Dictionary of Music Definitions. Los Angeles: Alfred Pub. Co. p. 54. sotto voce ... Under the voice, in soft voice
^ Did Galileo Truly Say, 'And Yet It Moves?' A Modern Detective Story Archived 25 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Scientific American. Mario Livio, 6 May 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
^ "Uniform Format Manual for Texas Reporters' Records" (PDF). Uniform Format Manual. State of Texas Judicial Branch. pp. 8, 17–18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
^ Brontë, Charlotte (2008). Jane Eyre (3rd ed.). London: Penguin Classics. p. 45.

[1] Publishers, HarperCollins. "The American Heritage Dictionary entry: sotto voce". www.ahdictionary.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

[2] "SOTTO VOCE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.

[3] Brown, Emily Freeman (2015). A Dictionary for the Modern Conductor. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 319. sotto voce. (It., lit. "under the voice.")

[4] Harnsberger, Lindsey C. (1997). Essential Dictionary of Music Definitions. Los Angeles: Alfred Pub. Co. p. 54. sotto voce ... Under the voice, in soft voice

[5] Did Galileo Truly Say, 'And Yet It Moves?' A Modern Detective Story Archived 25 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Scientific American. Mario Livio, 6 May 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.

[6] "Uniform Format Manual for Texas Reporters' Records" (PDF). Uniform Format Manual. State of Texas Judicial Branch. pp. 8, 17–18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.

[7] Brontë, Charlotte (2008). Jane Eyre (3rd ed.). London: Penguin Classics. p. 45.

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