Indirect Discourse

In French, indirect discourse (also known as reported speech) is used to report someone else's statements or thoughts in a polished manner. It allows us to convey information from another person without directly quoting them. Indirect discourse is essential in both written and spoken French, and it helps to differentiate between different levels of certainty and different sources of information.

Introduction to Indirect Discourse

Indirect discourse is used to report statements, questions, and thoughts from a different speaker or source while maintaining grammatical correctness and clarity. When using indirect discourse, there are a few key points to keep in mind:

1. Shift in Pronouns and Verb Forms: When reporting statements or thoughts, there is usually a shift in pronouns and verb forms from the original speaker's perspective to the reporting perspective.

2. Introduction Verb: An introduction verb is used to introduce the reported speech. The choice of the introduction verb can vary depending on the type of speech being reported, the level of certainty, and the source of information.

3. Tense Changes: The tense of the verb often changes when the speech is reported indirectly. This helps to indicate whether the reported speech is in the past, present, or future relative to the reporting verb.

Now let's dive into the details of how to construct indirect discourse and differentiate between different levels of certainty and sources of information.

Levels of Certainty

In indirect discourse, the level of certainty can be conveyed through the choice of introduction verb. Here are some commonly used introduction verbs and their levels of certainty:

1. Affirmative: The speaker is certain about the information.

   • affirmer que - to affirm that
   • certifier que - to certify that
   • déclarer que - to declare that
   • garantir que - to guarantee that
   • assurer que - to assure that

2. Neutral: The speaker presents the information without implying certainty or doubt.

   • dire que - to say that
   • annoncer que - to announce that
   • rapporter que - to report that
   • informer que - to inform that
   • expliquer que - to explain that

3. Doubt / Uncertainty: The speaker is unsure about the information.

   • penser que - to think that
   • croire que - to believe that
   • imaginer que - to imagine that
   • supposer que - to suppose that
   • craindre que - to fear that

Sources of Information

When reporting indirect discourse, it's essential to indicate the source of the information. Here are some common expression used for that:

1. Direct Attribution: The speaker explicitly mentions the source of the information.

   • Selon Paul, - According to Paul,
   • D'après Marie, - According to Marie,
   • Comme le dit Marc, - As Marc says,
   • Mentionnant Jean, - Mentioning Jean,
   • En citant Sophie, - Quoting Sophie,

2. Indirect Attribution: The speaker indirectly refers to the source of the information.

   • Il/Elle affirme - He/She affirms
   • On rapporte - It is reported
   • Une source explique - A source explains
   • Des études montrent - Studies show

Examples

Now let's see how to construct indirect discourse using the information discussed above:

• Direct Speech: "Je suis fatigué." (I am tired.)

  • Indirect Speech (Neutral): Elle dit qu'elle est fatiguée. (She says that she is tired.)
  • Indirect Speech (Certainty): Il affirme qu'il est fatigué. (He affirms that he is tired.)
  • Indirect Speech (Doubt): Je pense qu'il est fatigué. (I think he is tired.)

• Direct Speech: "Nous irons à la plage demain." (We will go to the beach tomorrow.)

  • Indirect Speech (Neutral): Il annonce qu'ils iront à la plage demain. (He announces that they will go to the beach tomorrow.)

• Direct Speech: "Selon les experts, il faut manger sainement." (According to experts, one should eat healthily.)

  • Indirect Speech (Direct Attribution): Selon les experts, il faut manger sainement. (According to experts, one should eat healthily.)
  • Indirect Speech (Indirect Attribution): Il est expliqué qu'il faut manger sainement. (It is explained that one should eat healthily.)

Remember to adapt the pronouns and verb forms accordingly based on the shift from direct to indirect speech.

Congratulations! You now have a solid understanding of indirect discourse in French. Practice constructing sentences using this grammar rule to further reinforce your skills.