The role of speech verbs in the reporting clause of direct speech (in literary works)

Abstract

Abstract: Although speech verbs belong to the grammatical category of verbs, research on speech
verbs has produced many findings that go beyond the boundaries of this word class. Speech verbs are not
merely verbs denoting acts of speaking. From the perspective of pragmatic theory, speech verbs are also
examined as verbs that express speech acts and as components that contribute to the formation of
illocutionary acts. The findings of this study further affirm the importance of speech verbs in
Vietnamese. Specifically, speech verbs in reporting clauses are not only structural elements that form the
reporting clause of direct speech, but they also serve as an important criterion for identifying the speech
act expressed in the quoted utterance. In addition, they contribute to expressing the emotional state and
attitude of the speaker during the act of speaking. Among these functions, the most significant role of
speech verbs in the reporting clause of direct speech is to help identify the speech act conveyed in the
quoted utterance.
Key words: Role; speech verbs; speech acts; reporting clause; direct speech.