REMARKS ON QUOTATIVE 'SAYING'

The author claims that two separae units of language should be distinguished in English (as well as, most probably, in other languages), which are based on morphological shape of 'say' (in case of English): first, the 'indirect discourse' 'say that____', and second, what he calls 'quotative' (or 'direct discourse') 'say: ______'. The former expresses a correlation between a chosen proposition (out of dual propositions generated by the respective propositional function) and appropriate action(s) the hearer can expect the utterer would carry out. The latter conveys just the fact of an expression being 'realized' ('materialized') by the utterer, for whatever reason and with an eye to just any purpose at will. It is the latter unit of language that is the proper object of scrutiny in the article. A definition to the unit is submitted and commented upon in much detail. All the main features of the unit are discussed; among other things, its relationship with literary texts is highlighted, its behaviour vis-a-vis pronominalization in the complement is described, the difference between the 1st person sentential 'prefix' 'I say: ____' and 'I say that _____ /I am saying that____' is analysed.