LESSON 13

QUOTING, REPORTING AND INTERPRETING

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 suspectreminisce

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 queriescriticism
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.
2. Put the corresponding letter of the right word into the blank of each sentence.

1. The police ………… me about my missing road tax disc.

a. suspected b. accused c. queried d. questioned
2. He will hard pressed to ………… these latest allegations.
a. refute b. restrain c. object d. dissent
3. We’ll have to take what he says on …………
a. trust b. faith c. belief d. confidence
4. Coming from him that is ………… indeed.
a. praise b. congratulations c. comment d. compliment
5. What did you infer ………… what he said?
a. from b. up c. of d. out
6. Don’t ………… me, but I think most modern art is a load of rubbish.
a. report b. paraphrase c. quote d. attribute
7. What ………… does this word have in this context?
a. connotations b. purposes c. meanings d. proposals
8. They say that under pressure from the authorities Galileo …………
a. repudiated b. rebutted c. recanted d. renounced
9. Under pressure from his peers, Big Billy …………
a. denied b. admitted c. confessed d. withstood
10. I think we can take what he says with a ………… of salt.
a. grain b. pinch c. carton d. speck

3. Fill each gap with one of the words listed.

unconfirmed spies rumour bird apparently

a. ………………… has it that he’s leaving.

b. My………………… tell me you’re going.
c. A little………………… told me you’re emigrating.
d. ………………… this is her third marriage.
e. ………………… reports say she’s resigning.

COMMUNICATING

A. Using words to show the way we speak – we use many verbs to show how people say
something. They can often be used as nouns:
‘It’s your fault’, she sobbed / grinned / sneered.

Here are examples of verbs we use in this way:

mutter shout scream whisper
bark bellow cry

B. Adding words and phrases to show how things are said – as well as using particular
verbs to show how people say something, we can add adverbs and adverbial phrases:
 ‘I didn’t mean it to happen’, he said defiantly / tearfully / grim-faced.
‘It’ll be all right’, he said in a conciliatory manner / in typical fashion / a in a
mysterious way.
‘I’ve had enough’, he said in a whisper / in a strangely muted tone of voice /
under his breath.
‘Who cares?’ he said with a smirk / with a shrug of his shoulders / with a shake of
his head.

C. Using phrasal verbs – we can use many phrasal verbs to express how people say or
write something.
1. For example, with the verb come we have:
come out with (a rude word) come up with (a good idea)
come back with (a sharp response) come across (as a coherent speaker)
come in for (a lot of criticism)

2. with the verb put, there are even more possibilities:

put forward (a suggestion) put out (a statement)
put across or put over (your message) put in (a claim)
put someone down (with a sarcastic comment)

3. phrasal verbs are useful in showing how a speaker expresses himself / herself:
She suddenly blurted out the truth.
He spoke out against her sacking.
He reeled off a long list of reasons.
He sounded off about the lazy students he had.
She only briefly touched on the heart of the problem.

D. Idiomatic phrases – there are many idiomatic phrases associated with communicating.
Here are some examples:
Don’t beat about the bush. Give it to me straight.
She let the cat out of the bag. She gave the game away.
He came clean. He let it be known that he was unhappy.
He ad libbed. He spoke off the cuff.
Off the top of my head, I’d say…

PRACTICE

1. Fill each of the numbered blanks in the passage with one appropriate word.

I’d like to …………………… (1) off by telling you some things to do and some
definitely not to do. First of all, …………………… (2) up; don’t mumble. Speak
at normal speed, perhaps slightly slower; don’t gabble. Don’t just trot
…………………… (3) a series of statistics. …………………… (4) to your
notes, of course, but don’t just read them …………………… (5). Maintain eye
contact with your listeners. Don’t go …………………… (6) too long; no guest
should overstay their welcome. In any presentation there will be a number of
 points you can just …………………… (7) on rather than go ……………………
(8) great detail about. Don’t forget the need to paraphrase and summarise with
expressions like ‘in …………………… (9) words’ or ‘if I could out it
…………………… (10) way’. If someone calls …………………… (11) or butts
…………………… (12) while you’re in …………………… (13) flow, don’t get
tongue-tied. Wait, and then come back …………………… (14) a light-hearted
response. Don’t, whatever you do, get involved in a …………………… (15) of
words or, worse, a slanging …………………… (16) with one particular member
of the audience. And don’t patronise any questioner; no one likes being talked
…………………… (17) to. When it comes to question and answer time, try to
stick to the point, try not to come out …………………… (18) too many clichés.
Be careful not to talk yourself …………………… (19) a corner; it’s very easy to
start going …………………… (20) in circles.

2. Use one of the words to complete each sentence.

gab confidence secret point cross

plain words shop syllable spit

a. Get to the …………….

b. ……………. it out!
c. I’ll tell you in words of one …………….
d. He took me into his …………….
e. I’m not going to mince …………….
f. I’ll tell you in ……………. English.
g. Do I have to dot the i’s and ……………. the t’s for you?
h. She let me in on her…………….
i. They talked ……………. all evening.
j. She’s got the gift of the …………….