1. Reporting Information and Evaluating Likelihood © M. Grazia Busà 2013

2. Reviewing reported speech Sources’ information can be quoted directly or indirectly, or paraphrased  Direct speech: what was said is reported in ‘’ ●‘I do not believe this is true’, said Mr Hughes  Indirect speech: the sources’ words are reported with no quotes, as a subordinate clause to the main clause ●Hughes did not believe that the fact was true  Paraphrase: the sources’ words can be reworded and summarised ●Hughes did not believe in the likelihood of the event ●Hughes was sceptical © M. Grazia Busà 2013

3. Direct speech  Assumption: source’s exact words are reported  Used to: ●Give objectivity to the quote ●Add vividness to the story, by making it more personal ●Enhance the story’s newsworthiness by making it more involving © M. Grazia Busà 2013

4. An example ●‘I want the whole world to know about my country and my people,’ the Guadalajara native said ●‘I imagine that they’re all going crazy in Mexico right now,’ she said through an interpreter. ‘I’m extremely proud and I’m sure they’re very proud, too.’ (Oskar Garcia, Associated Press, August 24, 2010) © M. Grazia Busà 2013

5. Indirect speech  Assumption: reported words may be fairly close to the source’s, but not exactly the same ●Focus is on the substance of the source’s words  Allows control over the information ●Pieces of information can be combined, moved, omitted, emphasized  Indirect speech reported may not be easily distinguishable from the narration ●Used when information is controversial © M. Grazia Busà 2013

6. An example ●Konigsmark said he was in the home when suddenly, around 7:45 p.m., the whole house shook with what sounded like a bomb going off on the bottom floor. (http://www.sfgate.com, November 17, 2008) © M. Grazia Busà 2013

7. Paraphrases  Used when the sources’ words are: ●not particularly dramatic, interesting or clear ●difficult for the readership to understand (for example in the case of government reports) ●grammatically incorrect ●too colloquial to look good in writing Example: Jenna Bush Hager confirms pregnancy (www.today.com, December 12, 2012) Compare: Jenna Bush Hager: ‘I'm pregnant!’ © M. Grazia Busà 2013

8. Other uses of direct speech  To give authoritativeness to a story ●As a form of validation of information ●Scientists have identified a new species of African monkey whose coloring ‘is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,’ as one of the researchers put it. (http://www.nytimes.com, September 13, 2012)  To emphasize that a word/phrase represents the source’s opinion, not the journalist’s ●Useful as a disowning device, to distance oneself from the information provided ●Perry says Corsicana man a ‘monster’ (www.chron.com, October 15, 2009) © M. Grazia Busà 2013

9. Use of modality in news stories  Linguistic expressions to indicate the degree to which a fact or event is considered possible, necessary or desirable ●Modal verbs (can, will, shall, may, must, could, would, should, might) ●Adverbs (likely, undoubtedly, probably, certainly, conceivably …) ●Phrases (it is certain that, it is possible that, it seems that …) can be used to convey a particular perspective on events © M. Grazia Busà 2013

10.  Expresses the notions of ‘speculation’, ‘probability’ or ‘certainty’  Indicates the degree to which speakers/writers are confident about the certainty of occurrence of a present, past or future event ● May/might(strong possibility the action will not or did not take place) ● Could(possible but highly unlikely) ● Can (possible but unlikely) ● Will (prediction: it is likely to happen) Epistemic modality © M. Grazia Busà 2013

11.  Expresses the speaker’s/writer’s idea about which future events are necessary, possible, desirable, etc. ●Must expresses an order ●Should expresses a recommendation ●Have to expresses necessity ●May expresses permission Deontic modality © M. Grazia Busà 2013

12.  Catholic church in France may become Mosque (http://rt.com, October 12, 2012)  Nuclear operators must act now on safety: EU (http://www.reuters.com, October 4, 2012)  Prisoners will not get the vote, says David Cameron (http://www.bbc.co.uk, October 24, 2012)  7 Foods You Should Never Eat (http://www.foxnews.com, December 2, 2011) Examples © M. Grazia Busà 2013

13.  How likely is it that the headline is true? Using modality in news stories © M. Grazia Busà 2013

14. The headline Mysterious woman flanking NK leader highly likely to be his wife What degree of probability does this modal expression convey that the woman is the NK leader’s wife? (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr, July 15, 2012) © M. Grazia Busà 2013

15. The lead i.e., the ‘mystery’ around this woman is the key to the interpreting the story Source is not precisely specified Modality expression indicates that the news is not certain, it is based on speculations The mysterious woman who has repeatedly been seen closely flanking North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a recent series of public appearances, is highly likely to be his wife, a South Korean government source said Sunday © M. Grazia Busà 2013

16. Answer  The event is presented as speculative by means of: ●Modal verbs and modal expressions indicating speculation, possibility ●Lexical choices that convey speculation, uncertainty ●Vagueness about the sources of information © M. Grazia Busà 2013