Sotto voce

Sotto voce (/ˈsɒtəʊ ˈvəʊtʃɪ/ or /ˈsɒtəʊ ˈvəʊtʃɛ/ or /ˈsɒtoʊ ˈvoʊtʃeɪ/;^[1][2] Italian: [ˈsotto ˈvoːtʃe], literally "under the voice") 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" ("Nonetheless, [the Earth] does move"), spoken after recanting his heliocentric theory, is an example of sotto voce utterance.

Uses

Law

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

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. 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^[3]

Music

In music, sotto voce is a dramatic lowering of the vocal or instrumental volume.

References