MODALITY)AND)REPORTED)SPEECH
MODALITY
Another(aspect(of(transitivity(-->(relates(to("how(valid(the(information(is(in(terms(of(probability (=(how(likely(it(is(to(be(true)(or(
usuality (=(how(frequently(it(is(true).
By(using(the(various(forms(of(modality(the(writer
Avoids(committing(themselves(to(a(particular(pov
The$Afghan$ppl$may$be heartened$by$Mr$Blair's$assurance$that...
-
Propose(a(pov(or(provoke(a(reaction
Many$universities$are$likely$to resist$change
-
Degree(or(uncertainty(or(doubt:(modality(allows(the(writer(to(present.an.opinion.and.speculation.in.such.a.way.that.it.remains.
hidden.as.a.fact
When(statements(contain(facts(which(can(be(regarded(as(true/false(-->(main(verb(in indicative.mood
▪
When(facts(are(presented(as(likely(/(unlikely(/(possible(/(desirable(modal.verbs,.conditional.sentences and(equivalent(
structures(are(utilized
▪
SAYING,AND,TELLING:,ATTRIBUTION
A(great(part(of(news(is(speech(attributed(to(a(source.(
With(attribution,(the(author(does(not(take(responsibility(for(the(statement(they(are(reporting.
Speech(in(a(story(has(3(aspects:
What(was(said
1.
How(it(is(attributed((e.g.(Direct(speech)
2.
The(verb(used(to(describe(the(speech(act
3.
ATTRIBUTION
Source(named((verifiable)
According(to(N/S...
-
Vague(sources
Spokesperson
Witnesses(said...
Experts(said...
Diplomats(said...
According(to(reports...
-
In(the(news(reported(discourse(has(2(functions
Increasing(newsworthiness((direct(quotation(from(newsmakers(confer(prestige(on(the(story)
1.
Allowing(reporters(to(express(their(own(views(by(quoting(other(people
2.
-
REPORTED,DISCOURSE
Direct(speech
▪
Reported(speech(
▪
Source's(words(unattributed(and(embedded(into(the(story
▪
VERBS,OF,SPEAKING
Neutral(verbs
Say,$tell,$ask
▪
Marked(verbs(conveying(evaluation
Claim,$insist
▪
The(reporter(disendorses (=(takes(no(responsibility,(for(the(utterance)
DISENDORSMENT:(the(writer(reports(what(other(people(say(but(they(also(distance(themselves(from(the(utterance
-->(the(author(is(NOT taking(responsibility(for(the(statement(they(are(reporting
Other(ways(to(create(distance
Scare(or(sneer(quotes
▪
Quotation(marks(placed(around(a(single(word(or(phrase,(rather(than(an(entire(utterance
▪
Used(to(signal(the(reporter(disendorses(the(source's(words(in(case(of
Controversial,(one-sided,(prejudiced(nature(of(what(is(reported
-
Inappropriate,(colloquial(or(idiomatic(language
-
▪
ENDORSEMENT:(the(writer(declares(their(public(approval(or(support(of(the(opinion(they(are(reporting
=>(the(author(is(taking(responsibility(for(the(statement(they(are(making(or(indirectly(reporting
Modality)and)Reported)Speech
venerdì'24'giugno'2022
13:03
