Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics

Get access

Direct/Indirect Speech
(1,814 words)

Abstract

Direct and indirect speech are varieties of reported speech. In Ancient Greek, indirect speech may take different forms: a subordinate clause with a finite verb, an infinitive clause or a participle clause. In indirect speech, the optative mood often replaces the original mood of the verb after a past-tense verb of speaking.

1. Introduction

Direct and indirect speech are subtypes of reported speech. The distinction between dire…

Cite this page
Eirik Welo, “Direct/Indirect Speech”, in: Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics, General Editor: Georgios K. Giannakis. Consulted online on 01 October 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2214-448X_eagll_COM_00000111>
First published online: 2013



▲   Back to top   ▲