A clumsy messenger with a flippant tongue: Reported speech by Chinese males between their mothers and wives

Abstract

Prior research has predominantly explored reported speech through the lenses of narratology and conversation analysis. However, scant attention has been directed toward elucidating how reported speech functions in either enhancing or diminishing interpersonal relationship management. Accordingly, this study endeavors to fill this gap by shedding light on the role of reported speech in the realm of relationships within Chinese households. Specifically, we probe into the verbal articulation of reported speech by Chinese males, examining how it either constructively or disruptively contributes to the management of the relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. For this end, our analysis focuses on two succinct video cases, accompanied by corresponding comments. As a result, the findings indicate that reported speech by Chinese males typically takes the form of indirect speech, manifesting as compressives, expansives, and correctives that challenge the maxims of quantity and quality of Cooperative Principle. This nuanced analysis further unravels the intricate interplay of reported speech in fueling tensions between the mothers and wives of Chinese males. These imbue reported speech with rich meaning potentials, positing it as a recontextualized repository, which relieves the Chinese males from shouldering full responsibility of being blamed as poor messengers between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law.