… from the fact that subordinate clauses precede, it might be predicted that quotations would precede the quoting verb. Also, from the presence of conjunctive verb forms, one might predict a tendency to use the conjunctive of a verb ‘to say’ as a quotation-ending particle.
Standardized
(i) IF subordinate clauses precede their main clauses, THEN quotations precede the quoting verb. (ii) IF there are conjunctive verb forms, THEN the conjunctive of a verb ‘to say’ is used as a quotation marker following after the quote.
Ferguson continues:”What seems less predictable, given the present state of semantic theory, is that all four languages have uses of clauses with quotation-ending markers which are extensions from pure quotation to the expression of intention or purpose.”
Ferguson continues:”What seems less predictable, given the present state of semantic theory, is that all four languages have uses of clauses with quotation-ending markers which are extensions from pure quotation to the expression of intention or purpose.”