When we retell what someone said, the intonation and rhythm of our speech change significantly. Direct speech has lively, expressive pitch patterns that mimic the original speaker, while reported (indirect) speech uses flatter, more neutral intonation. Understanding these differences will make your English sound much more natural.
Direct vs. Reported Intonation
In direct speech, you reproduce the original speaker's emotion and pitch patterns. In reported speech, the intonation becomes more subdued and matter-of-fact. Compare these examples:
- Direct: She said, "I LOVE this movie!" (rising, enthusiastic pitch)
- Reported: She said that she loved that movie. (flatter, falling pitch)
- Direct: He asked, "Are you COMING?" (rising question intonation)
- Reported: He asked if I was coming. (falling statement intonation)
Notice that reported statements end with falling intonation, even when reporting questions. Reported questions do not use the rising pitch of direct questions.
Reporting Verbs: Pronunciation Guide
Reporting verbs are the backbone of indirect speech. Many of these verbs have tricky pronunciations, especially for non-native speakers. Pay attention to syllable stress and consonant clusters:
More Reporting Verbs
These reporting verbs carry specific connotations about the speaker's attitude or intent. Notice how the stress patterns differ:
The Reduction of "That" in Reported Speech
In reported speech, the conjunction "that" is extremely common but often reduced or dropped entirely in natural speech:
- Full form: "She said that she was tired" /ʃi sɛd ðæt ʃi wəz ˈtaɪərd/
- Reduced form: "She said that she was tired" /ʃi sɛd ðət ʃi wəz ˈtaɪərd/
- Dropped entirely: "She said she was tired" /ʃi sɛd ʃi wəz ˈtaɪərd/
In casual conversation, dropping "that" completely is the most common pattern. When it is kept, it is almost always reduced to /ðət/.
The Weak Form of "Had" in Reported Speech
Tense backshift in reported speech often introduces "had" for the past perfect. In natural speech, "had" is heavily reduced:
- Strong form: /hæd/ (used for emphasis or at the end of a sentence)
- Weak form: /həd/ or /əd/ (most common in connected speech)
Examples in context:
- "She said she'd finished" /ʃi sɛd ʃiəd ˈfɪnɪʃt/
- "He told me he had already left" /hi toʊld mi hi əd ɔːlˈrɛdi lɛft/
Intonation Patterns for Reported Statements vs. Questions
One of the most important distinctions in reported speech is between reported statements and reported questions:
Reported Statements
Reported statements always end with falling intonation, just like regular declarative sentences:
- "He said he was happy." (pitch falls on "happy")
- "They told us they were moving." (pitch falls on "moving")
Reported Questions
Reported questions also use falling intonation, even though the original question may have had rising intonation. This is because reported questions are structured as statements:
- "She asked if I was coming." (pitch falls on "coming")
- "He wanted to know where I lived." (pitch falls on "lived")
Putting It All Together
When practicing reported speech pronunciation, focus on these key points:
- Use flatter, more neutral intonation for reported speech compared to direct speech.
- Practice the consonant clusters in reporting verbs like "asked" /æskt/ and "explained" /ɪkˈspleɪnd/.
- Reduce or drop "that" in casual reported speech.
- Reduce "had" to /əd/ in connected speech for past perfect backshift.
- Use falling intonation at the end of both reported statements and reported questions.
- Stress the reporting verb slightly when introducing the reported clause.
Practice converting direct speech into reported speech aloud, paying close attention to how your intonation flattens and auxiliaries reduce. This skill is essential for natural-sounding storytelling and conversation in English.