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soutenance(s)

English translation: viva (tout court) / viva voce

20:27 Oct 25, 2009

French to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Education / Pedagogy / Business school prospectus

French term or phrase: soutenance(s)

Good evening,

I came across the above term, which in the US at least we use defending one's dissertation, thesis, reports, I would like to know if the term I found 'viva voce' is valid or not in UK English within a business schoo:
here it is in context:

"soutenance des rapports de stage"
"une soutenance orale devant un jury

As always, thanks for your support!@

Bonne semaine,

Richard

Richard Levy KudoZ activity Questions: 176 (1 open) (2 without valid answers) (10 closed without grading) Answers: 70 United States
Local time: 00:26

English translation:viva (tout court) / viva voce

Explanation:
I've always heard "viva" used "tout court" in the British education system - a number of my friends had to do these. "viva voce" certainly does exist, but I think it's something more written than spoken.

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Note added at 7 mins (2009-10-25 20:35:03 GMT)
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These links are from business schools:

http://www.mbs-worldwide.ac.uk/programmes/dba/assessment_feb...
http://business.leeds.ac.uk/research-degrees/programmes/

Selected response from:

hjs45
Spain
Local time: 06:26

Grading comment

Thanks again HJS 45 for your help!@
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

viva (tout court) / viva voce

hjs45

3 +2

viva

Vicky James

4 +1

thesis defence

Bourth

Summary of reference entries provided

Previously on Kudoz...

Emma Paulay

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

viva (tout court) / viva voce

hjs45
Spain
Local time: 06:26
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks again HJS 45 for your help!@

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you very much hjs45!@

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

thesis defence

Explanation:
Sorry folks, I managed to copy and paste text multiple times into a subsequent note so deleted my original response and am posting it again in much shorter form!

Not an answer to your question, but if there's any likelihood of the reader not understanding "viva", more commonly encountered in "Viva Bobby Jo" and as a type of Vauxhall car, you might want to consider "thesis defence".

The following is a response to
Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral Chris Hall: It would probably have been best to post this in the "Post Discussion Entry" section. You have explained what a "viva" is which is fair enough, so a discussion entry would have been more appropriate.

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-10-25 22:00:27 GMT)
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Dunno, Chris: while not wishing to contradict those agreeing that "viva" is OK, I wanted to suggest "thesis defence" as an authentic alternative, hence an "Answer" (though not necessarily to the Question as phrased). I'll admit I never have been good at filling in forms and putting myself in little boxes, and in that I take after Peter Ustinov. I'm convinced you've refined it to an art form.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-10-25 22:31:16 GMT)
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AUSTRALIA : The THESIS DEFENCE OR VIVA is like an oral examination in some ways. It is different in many ways, however. The chief difference is that the candidate ...
www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/viva.html

CANADA : The Chair indicates the decision on the (Report of the Jury - THESIS DEFENCE) form under the appropriate category (l, 2, 3 or 4) and, if appropriate, ...
www.grad.uottawa.ca/default.aspx?tabid=1375

CANADA : For a THESIS DEFENCE, a Chair is appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. They can ask questions if they choose, but will primarily chair ...
web.uvic.ca/spp/documents/thesisdefence.pdf

1. Canada : Guidelines for THESIS DEFENCE - MSc/PhD Programs - Graduate ...
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
www.psychiatry.ualberta.ca/.../guidelines_theis_defence.cfm

UK : As a last item of thesis proceedings, students have to defend their theses through THESIS DEFENCE, immediately before the declaration of either successful ...
dissertation-service.co.uk/blog/.../thesis-defence/1

UK : UK Student Portal: Student Help and Advice, Academic Directory, ... for major revisions or you may fail your THESIS DEFENCE outright. ...
www.uk-student.net/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid....

UK : The THESIS DEFENCE was a formal affair, with the candidate presenting his thesis first and his opponent asking him challenging questions. ...
www.tallfamily.co.uk/david/photos/finland/index.html

UK : The last step you should take before the THESIS DEFENCE is to bind your thesis. Do you know how to bind a thesis properly? What do you know about online thesis binding? Have you already found a good thesis binding service?
http://blog.aplusa.org.uk/index.php/2009/07/06/necessary-inf...

UK : Generally what happens is that after writing an account of three or more years' research, the candidate undergoes a VIVA VOCE - LITERALLY "LIVE VOICE" - an oral examination SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A THESIS DEFENCE.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=40...

NZ : Statistics New Zealand will be running two workshops at the conference this year. ... Canterbury University workshop on oral THESIS DEFENCE (Saturday, ...
www.nzpgc.org.nz/workshops.html

NZ : THESIS DEFENCE: The department requires an oral thesis defence. ... The only people who attend are New Zealand examiners, the convener of the examiners, ...
www.business.otago.ac.nz/finc/courses/phd.html

At least with "thesis defence" the plural – since you appear to require it - is a given. I'm not a Latin scholar: I assume the plural of the viva voce is vivae voces, but what is the plural of "viva" by itself? A bastardized Anglo-Latinate "vivas" or vivae?

Bourth
France
Local time: 06:26
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 45

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

viva

Explanation:
Viva is accepted terminology for UK, as is viva voce (business school / university context)

Titres universitaires / University degrees

Situation actuelle / Present position or job

Titre, date et lieu de soutenance de la thèse / Title of thesis, place and date of viva voce examination

Nom - prénom de votre directeur de recherche / Surname & Forename of your doctoral supervisor

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Note added at 30 mins (2009-10-25 20:58:55 GMT)
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How to Survive Your Viva: Defending a Thesis in an Oral Examination (Paperback)

This is the first book to provide comprehensive coverage of the viva. It is an essential handbook for all involved in oral examinations: students, supervisors, tutors and examiners, including undergraduate, Masters and doctoral examinations.

About the Author
Rowena Murray is a senior lecturer int he Centre for Academic Practice at the University of Strathclyde. Rowena runs consultancies on Writing for Publication for universities across the UK and overseas and for other institutions, such as healthcare trusts. She has published on aspects of acdemic writing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Survive-Your-Viva-Examination/dp...

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Note added at 21 hrs (2009-10-26 18:19:29 GMT)
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Have found some refs of it used in the plural, including:

http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/studyadvice/ResourcesforPo...

Vivas

This guide offers advice on viva voce examinations. It includes:

* What is a viva?
* Preparing for your viva
* Getting your results
* Dealing with corrections and revisions
* Appeals

You may also find it useful to book an individual advice session with a Study Adviser.
What is a viva?

A viva voce is an oral examination (usually referred to as a viva). In some courses, students are given vivas as part of the undergraduate or Masters assessment process. However, it is more usually found as part of the final assessment process for PhD students.

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Note added at 21 hrs (2009-10-26 18:20:20 GMT)
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Also:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/exams/thesisandvivas

Thesis Submission and Vivas

Please ensure that you have read the information on the Exam Entry Form page as you will not be able to submit a thesis without a valid exam entry.

Reference: http://www.quaibranly.fr/fileadmin/user_upload/enseignements...

Vicky James
France
Local time: 06:26
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8