viva-voce Meaning

Viva-Voce

Definition: The term “viva-voce” refers to a method of communication that occurs orally, typically used in contexts such as examinations or presentations. The phrase literally means “with living voice,” indicating that the interaction is spoken rather than written. In academia, it often describes an oral examination where a student responds directly to questions posed by examiners.

Usage: “Viva-voce” is commonly employed in educational settings, such as universities, where students might have to defend their thesis or project in front of an examination panel. For example:

• “The doctoral candidate passed her viva-voce with flying colors, impressing the committee with her knowledge and confidence.”

It can also appear in legal contexts, signifying oral statements as opposed to written ones.

Etymology: The term originates from Latin, where “viva” is the feminine singular form of “vivus,” meaning “alive” or “living,” and “vox” is the Latin word for “voice.” Thus, “viva-voce” translates as “with a living voice.”

Pronunciation: The phonetic pronunciation of “viva-voce” is /ˈviː.vəˈvoʊ.si/ in American English and /ˈvaɪ.vəˈvəʊ.tʃeɪ/ in British English.

Synonyms:

• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Spoken assessment
• Verbal examination

Antonyms:

• Written examination
• Written test
• Written assessment
• Documentary evidence