use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

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  • use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

    Seems to be two schools of thought on this. Some formatting books suggest using it - some suggest against it.

    I've heard some say that this is an obscure term, it's outdated or will be flagged as an inappropriate or archaic term with readers.

    Some writers/readers say it's perfectly acceptable.

    Anyone have any thoughts?

    -cs

  • #2
    Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

    I've seen it used more in drama (or in opera libretti), and in a screenplay I prefer, as a parenthetical, (to herself) or (under his breath)

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

      You can't get any better top drawer writing than
      the "Grey's Anatomy" script Charli just put up in the
      Writers and Scripts section.

      They use (Sotto) in that script.
      myhomeconvalesceblog

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

        The difference between "sotto voce" and someone just saying something to themselves is that the sotto is an under the breath that is still meant to be heard by the other characters.

        "I've got a bad feeling about this."
        "Forget it, Jake. It's Hollywood."

        My YouTube channel.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

          I find it really annoying and pretentious. (under the breath) is simpler and I see it more often. I would have to say out of 10 scripts in which a writer is using a parenthetical in that way, maybe 1 would use sotto.

          BUT I am only one reader so it might not annoy others. Bottom line, even if it annoys - it would never ding your script. Not a chance. It's such a tiny detail.

          Julie Gray



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          • #6
            Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

            Originally posted by indigoman View Post

            I've heard some say that this is an obscure term, it's outdated or will be flagged as an inappropriate or archaic term with readers.



            -cs

            Any reader not familiar with the term should not be a reader.

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            • #7
              Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

              Originally posted by Signal30 View Post
              The difference between "sotto voce" and someone just saying something to themselves is that the sotto is an under the breath that is still meant to be heard by the other characters.

              "I've got a bad feeling about this."
              Which is why it's almost always seen in scripts written for the stage as opposed to cinema, which can find various other strategies to handle this.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

                Sotto is meant to be heard by other characters in a piece, as opposed to someone just muttering...

                BOB
                (under his breath)
                I am so going to kill him.

                ... is to be taken as Bob is serious in his statement, whereas:

                BOB
                (sotto)
                I am so going to kill him.

                ... implies that Bob is being facetious, that his dramatic "under the breath" is meant to be overheard.
                "Forget it, Jake. It's Hollywood."

                My YouTube channel.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

                  I would never use it for stage or screen.

                  "The fact that you have seen professionals write poorly is no reason for you to imitate them." - ComicBent.

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                  • #10
                    Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

                    It's rarely used these days, anyway. It's pretty much gone the way of the aside.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

                      Well, it's nice to know that keeping the writing at an eighth grade level extends beyond journalism.
                      "Forget it, Jake. It's Hollywood."

                      My YouTube channel.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

                        Originally posted by Signal30 View Post
                        Well, it's nice to know that keeping the writing at an eighth grade level extends beyond journalism.
                        Didn't you know? Hollywood readers are idiots who can be "taken out of a story" by a single word.

                        Fortunately I didn't know about DD when I WAS a Hollywood reader, I don't think I could have stood the insinuations. LOL

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: use of the word "sotto" or "sotto voce"

                          How many produced or sold screenplays have you seen that use sotto? I haven't seen any that I can recall.

                          At the same time, I don't think it's going to matter much.
                          "Witticism"
                          -Some Guy

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