Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VIVA VOCE

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explore the archives: Literally "living voice," viva voce means "by word of mouth." The "voce" part simply means "voice," which is why it resembles words like vocal, vocabulary, advocate, and unequivocal.  For a challenge, see if you can use the word "voice" as you define advocate, then unequivocal. make your point with... "VIVA VOCE" "Viva voce" literally means "by or with the living voice." Something viva voce, or something done viva voce, is said out loud (not written down).  Pronunciation: "VY vuh VO see." (It rhymes with "WHY the LOW sea.") Also accepted is "VY vuh VO chee." In both accepted pronunciations, notice how you say the first syllable "VY" like in revive and vivacious, not "VEE" like in "viva Las Vegas." Part of speech: Both an adjective ("viva voce news," "viva voce testimony") and an adverb ("to explain it viva voce," "to hear it viva voce"). Other forms: "Viva voce" is also a noun. It means "a test given orally instead of written down." How to use it: Pick "viva voce" to emphasize how something is said out loud rather than read silently or written down. It's formal and emphatic, so it calls attention to your idea more than a plain word or phrase like "aloud," "out loud," "spoken," or "orally."  To use the adjective, talk about viva voce voting, viva voce testimony, or viva voce news, gossip, or information. (Some people prefer a hyphen for the adjective: "viva-voce voting.") To use the adverb, talk about hearing, getting, discovering, or learning something viva voce; saying, describing, explaining, or relating something viva voce; or expressing, confessing, sharing, or confiding something viva voce. Thoughts and impressions can emerge viva voce; details and information can arrive viva voce or be conveyed viva voce. Is "viva voce" too fancy, though? Is it uppity? Will people be confused by it? It all depends on your context. Ironically, if you use it in writing instead of speech, I bet people unfamiliar with it will understand it easily. examples: Some applicants may not shine on paper, but they can dazzle the interviewers viva voce. She can still recall those sweet things he wrote in letters and the sweeter things he said viva voce. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "vice voce" means when you can explain it without saying "by word of mouth" or "spoken out loud." try it out: Think of a topic so personal or sensitive that it's better to talk about it face-to-face or on the phone rather than in emails or texts. Fill in the blanks: "It's best if we (discuss/address/negotiate) _____ viva voce." Example: "It's best if we discuss the salary viva voce." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is called One-Word Titles! Rely on your cultural knowledge, your vocabulary, or both as we consider the power and simplicity of one-word titles. We'll recall movies, songs, books, television shows, and musicals with brief, meaningful, well-chosen titles of only one word each. Let's play! From yesterday: The title of this television series, which debuted in 1959 and was created by David Dortort, means "a source of great wealth," like a discovery of silver or gold. Though we took it directly from Spanish, it ultimately comes from the Latin for "good," which shows up in words like benevolent. The show's title is also the title of its theme song--guaranteed to get stuck in your head. That title is _______. Answer: Bonanza. Try this today: The title of this musical with lyrics by Boy George, which debuted in 2002, means "something that society says is unacceptable or not proper." It’s also the one-word title of a Parker Brothers party game in which players try to avoid saying certain words. The title is _____. review today's word: 1. One opposite of VIVA VOCE is A. AUDIBLY B. VERBALLY C. SILENTLY 2. She made that assurance viva voce, so I have no _____. A. reason to doubt it B. official record of it C. idea what she said Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. B