Research on quotation has yielded a rich and diverse knowledge-base.
Scientific interest has been sparked particularly by the recent emergence
of new quotative forms in typologically related and unrelated languages
(i.e. English "be like", Hebrew "kazé", Japanese "mitai-na"). The present
collection gives a platform to research conducted within different
linguistic sub-disciplines and on the basis of a variety of Western and
non-Western languages. The introduction presents an overview of forms and
functions of old and new quotative constructions. The nine chapters
investigate quotation from different perspectives, from conversation
analysis over grammaticalization and language variation and change to
typological and formal approaches. The collection advocates a comprehensive
approach to the phenomenon ‘quotation’, seeking a more nuanced
knowledge-base as regards the linguistic properties, social uses and
pragmatic functions than monolingual or single disciplinary approaches
deliver. The cross disciplinary nature and the wealth of data make the
findings broadly available and relevant.