Visible quotation
To investigate factors affecting the multimodal expression of viewpoint in quoted speech, we distinguish quoted monologues and dialogues and between ‘ordinary’ direct speech quotation and fictive interaction, i.e., creative extensions of direct speech quotation allowing speakers to quote objects, pets, attitudes, and so forth. We find that the multimodal expression of viewpoint is sensitive to the type of quote and the number of quoted entities. Speakers’ bodily actions are found to differentiate between quoted characters. We also find that various bodily actions are often used conjointly in order to create a full representation of the quoted character.
On the basis of these findings it is argued that human cognition – including language and communication – is rooted in the body, and is inherently multimodal.