In grammar, indirect discourse (Latin: oratio obliqua) is a means of reporting in a sentence, without quotation, the substance of a statement, thought, belief, perception, or question attributed to someone. Many languages possess some facility for doing so. For example:
- Mary says that indirect discourse is a common feature of human languages.
- John thinks lexicography was a romantic profession in the nineteenth century.
- The ancient Greeks knew that the Earth was round.
- Sarah asked whether I had ever visited the Supreme Court.
Each of these sentences reports on someone's sentiment, statement, or question, without directly quoting it. The person to whom each statement or question might or might not have expressed the sentiment in those words. (By contrast, the use of quotation would imply that the sentiment had been expressed using the exact words under quotation.)
Indirect discourse in Latin edit
Latin grammar can express indirect statements and indirect questions. An indirect statement or question can serve in the place of the direct object of a verb related to thought or communication.
An indirect statement is expressed by changing the case of the subject noun phrase from nominative to accusative and by replacing the main verb with an infinitive (without changing its voice or tense).
- Ego amo libertatem.
- Dicit me amare libertatem.
- Rex dedit omnibus leges.
- Credo regem dedisse omnibus leges.
- Videbimus permulta cras.
- Speras nos videturus esse permulta cras.
- Tertium non datur.
- Docuit philosophus tertium non dari.
- In Senatu imperator interfectus est.
- Audivi imperatorem in Senatu interfectum esse.
In the case of predication via a copula (typically esse), it is also necessary to change the case of the predicate adjective or noun phrase from nominative to accusative.
- Ego sum felix.
- Dicit me esse felicem.
An indirect question is expressed by changing the mood of the main verb from indicative to subjunctive. It is normally appropriate to retain the word that introduces the question.