Section 3 - Quoting, reporting and interpreting

Referring directly to other people's words

We can use a number of phrases or structures to refer to what other people have said or written:

According to the Chancellor, a tax increase is unavoidable.
In the words of Shakespeare, 'All the world's a stage'.
To quote Julius Caesar: 'I came, I saw, I conquered'.
As the Prime Minister has it, 'Things can only get better'.
Beckett once wrote that people were 'bloody ignorant apes'.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, we're not all idiots all the time.

Inanimate objects can speak

It's not only people who say and tell us things. We can talk about written materials in a number of ways:

'What came in the post, dear?' Oh, the usual stuff. The Sun says it's time to forget we're Europeans. And there was a leaflet offering four CDs for the price of one. And a letter from WD Autos reminding us that a service is due on the car. And a circular from the Town Hall telling us that our house is to be demolished. And a note from my boss saying I've been fired.

Casting doubt on what people have said

We may wish to cast doubt or uncertainty on what has been said. We can use different phrasing:

If he's to be believed, he's on his way out.
They're saying that he's on his way out.
I gather / understand / I hear he's on his way out.
He is supposed to be on his way out.
There's a rumour going around that he's on his way out.
The word is that he's on his way out.

Practice

Fill each gap with one of the words listed.
unconfirmed * spies * rumour * bird * apparently

a. has it that he's leaving.
b. My tell me you're going.
c. A little told me you're emigrating.
d. this is her third marriage.
e. reports say she's resigning.

Interpreting the meaning of what has been said

Sometimes, as the listener or reader, we interpret what we hear or read. We can use a number of verbs and common phrases:

I infer from your letter that...
The only possible inference is that...
Your comments imply that...
From the tone of your letter I conclude that...
I feel bound to interpret your comments as...
Judging by your reply, you...
What you are saying in so many words is that...

Practice

Fill each gap with one of the words listed.
denote * read * signify * dropping * driving * take

a. What does this line from 'Hamlet' ?
b. If I JXUwMDJhJXUwMDE3JXUwMDA0JXUwMDA1 between the lines, ...
c. A colon can a list is to follow.
d. I think he was a hint.
e. I couldn't see what he was at.
f. JXUwMDBjJXUwMDM1JXUwMDBhJXUwMDBl what he said with a pinch of salt.

Verbs that indicate how something is said

We can use a number of verbs (and related adverbs) to indicate the purpose or effect of speakers' or writers' words:

He stated categorically that he was innocent.
He maintained throughout that he had done nothing wrong.
He challenged the authenticity of the papers.
He questioned the people's right to doubt his sincerity.

Other verbs that indicate the person's attitude include:

(utterly) repudiate * assert * confirm * clamour (for) * (openly) confess (to) * doubt * demand * recollect * allege * reminisce * (proudly) proclaim * suspect

Nouns that summarise what has been said

If we know what was said previously, we can summarise it with a noun:

He has repudiated all the recent allegations.
She continues to deny their accusations.
We cannot possibly meet their demands.
Their claims border on the ludicrous.

Common nouns that act like this include:

comments * remarks * statements * queries * criticism * praise * compliment * attack * recollections * protest

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