• Linguistics and Language -> Grammar and Syntax

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How has the use of indirect speech in English evolved over time?

Hartley Medcraft

Indirect speech is a way to tell what someone else said, without using their exact words. It is also called reported speech.

The use of indirect speech in English has changed over time. In the past, people used more formal language and followed strict grammar rules. They also used indirect speech in a certain way, depending on the situation.

For example, if someone said "I will come to the party," in direct speech, we would report it as "He said he would come to the party." In the past, this would be done by changing the verb tense to past tense and adding certain words like "that" or "if."

Nowadays, the use of indirect speech has become more relaxed, and we can report what someone said more freely. We can use the same tense as in the direct speech or change it if it makes more sense. And we don't always need to use words like "that" or "if."

However, there are still some situations where we use indirect speech in a specific way. For example, in formal writing or when reporting something important like a speech or an interview. In these cases, we still follow certain rules and use more formal language.

In short, the use of indirect speech in English has evolved over time to become more flexible and less strict. But there are still situations where we use it in a specific way, depending on the context and the language style.