Using direct speech to quote words and ideas
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Uses of direct speech | page 2 of 4 |
In newspaper reports, direct speech is used in situations such as the following 
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when what someone has said/written is important and worth knowing in full: |
Lord Denning, taking a retributive stance, once said: "The punishment inflicted for grave crimes should adequately reflect the revulsion felt by the great majority of citizens for them."
Those who share his view probably feel the six-year term meted out to the father who raped his daughter twice is inadequate ... (SCMP 21/5/94)
In this case, what Lord Denning has said is significant because when he made the comment, he was one of the most senior and highly respected judges in Britain. And what he said supports the average citizen's opinion that the six-year sentence is inadequate. This reason might explain why the writer of the excerpt chose to report Lord Denning's original words in full.
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when the reporter wants to suggest that he/she is not to be held responsible for the content of the reported message: |
Hong Kong has no law protecting workers from unfair dismissal. And only the wage rates of imported labour are guaranteed by law. Local workers have no such protection.
These are the sorts of attitudes and conditions the Australian union movement wants changed. It's a plan the Northern Territory's Mr Stone says is doomed: "There is a right and a wrong way to do business with our Asian neighbours. I assure you Mr Ferguson's threats are the wrong way." (SCMP 21/5/94)
Here, Mr Stone's message is rather blunt and rude. By using direct speech to report it, the writer of the excerpt might have wanted to suggest that he/she should not be held responsible for its content.
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when the reporter wants to be an impartial supplier of information, leaving the interpretation of the message to the reader/listener. Note that in this case, the neutral reporting verb say is used instead of a loaded reporting verb such as claim: |
Despite yesterday's Central holdup and shootout, police are predicting robberies will hit a record low this year ...
"Raids on goldsmith and jewellery shops can't even be described at this stage as a trend," said one senior police source.
"What has occurred is obviously very terrible, but, in general terms, we are on top of the situation ..."
(SCMP 19/5/94)
By quoting the actual words of a senior police source in this extract, the reporter might have wanted to make an objective report. The reporter gave no extra information, and it is up to the reader to agree or disagree with the opinion expressed.
Introduction
Quoting the actual words used in newspaper reports
