Voices in the Text: Discourse Perspectives on Language Reports

Abstract

This paper investigates the ways in which language events are reported in English Language reports are identified on functional rather than structural grounds. The definition that is used for identification is ‘signalled voices in text’, and the framework suggested here attempts to account for all instances in naturally-occurring text which are covered by such a definition Four main dimensions of choice for the reporter in any language report are outlined and exemplified the voice that is presented as the source of the report, the way in which the message is reported, the reporting signal, and the reporter's attitude Some possible applications of the framework are outlined