Lesson 13 - curs engleză

COMMUNICATING

QUOTING, REPORTING AND INTERPRETING

A. 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.

B. 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.

C. 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 / I 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.

D. 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…

E. 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

(proudly) proclaim allege suspect reminisce

F. 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 attack compliment protest recollections

PRACTICE

1. Fill each of the gaps in the dialogue below with one of the verbs listed in an appropriate form.

read imply quote put infer jump

make judge conclude interpret assume confirm

ME If I ………………… (1) between the lines, you’re ………………… (2) that I’m incompetent.

BOSS No, I wouldn’t say that. You’re ………………… (3) a false interpretation on what I said.

ME So, I shouldn’t ………………… (4) in any way from your remarks that you want to get rid of me, then?

BOSS ………………… (5) what you will of my comments.

ME I ………………… (6) from what others are saying that you think things have been getting rather slack. And your monthly report ………………… (7) that. According to that, I’m useless.

BOSS I think you are being over sensitive.

ME But others have ………………… (8) your text in the same way.

BOSS The’re just ………………… (9) to conclusions.

ME ………………… (10) by your comments I think I can safely ………………… (11) you wouldn’t be averse to losing me.

BOSS To ………………… (12) somebody to other: ‘No one’s indispensable.’

ME Enough said.