Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

le Carre: sopra voce

332 views
Skip to first unread message

Marius Hancu

unread,
Jan 13, 2012, 8:16:36 AM1/13/12
to
Hello:

--
'Oh damn!' he cried sopra voce, halting in his tracks for greater
emphasis. 'Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn.'

John le Carré, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
---

"sopra voce": at the top of his voice?
couldn't quite confirm it

--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

Peter Young

unread,
Jan 13, 2012, 8:42:54 AM1/13/12
to
On 13 Jan 2012 Marius Hancu <marius...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello:

> --
> 'Oh damn!' he cried sopra voce, halting in his tracks for greater
> emphasis. 'Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn.'

> John le Carré, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
> ---

> "sopra voce": at the top of his voice?
> couldn't quite confirm it

There is a musical term "sotto voce", literally "under the voice",
which means "whispered" or similar. "Sopra voce" is a humorous
inversion of this.

Peter.

--
Peter Young, (BrE, RP), Consultant Anaesthetist, 1975-2004.
(US equivalent: Certified Anesthesiologist)
Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK. Now happily retired.
http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk

Marius Hancu

unread,
Jan 13, 2012, 12:57:16 PM1/13/12
to
On Jan 13, 8:42 am, Peter Young <pnyo...@ormail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 13 Jan 2012 Marius Hancu <marius.ha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello:
> > --
> > 'Oh damn!' he cried sopra voce, halting in his tracks for greater
> > emphasis. 'Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn.'
> > John le Carré, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
> > ---
> > "sopra voce": at the top of his voice?
> > couldn't quite confirm it
>
> There is a musical term "sotto voce", literally "under the voice",
> which means "whispered" or similar. "Sopra voce" is a humorous
> inversion of this.

Say, "at the top of his voice," then?

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

Peter Young

unread,
Jan 13, 2012, 1:19:20 PM1/13/12
to
But that wouldn't give the effect of the rather forced humour. "In
full voice" would be colloquial.
0 new messages