How to Use Reported Speech in Latvian: A Guide for English Speakers

Understanding Reported Speech in Latvian

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is used to convey what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. In Latvian, reported speech involves changes in verb forms and sometimes pronouns, similar to English but with its own unique rules.

Direct vs. Reported Speech Example

In direct speech, you quote the exact words: Viņš saka: "Es eju uz veikalu." (He says: "I am going to the store.") In reported speech, this becomes: Viņš saka, ka viņš iet uz veikalu. (He says that he is going to the store.) Notice the change from direct quotation to a subordinate clause introduced by ka (that).

Forming Reported Speech in Latvian

Latvian typically uses the conjunction ka (that) to introduce reported speech. The verb in the reported clause is usually in the present tense if the reporting verb is in the present tense, or in the past tense if the reporting verb is in the past tense.

Verb Tense Changes

When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported clause often shifts to the past tense as well, similar to English backshifting.

• Direct: Viņa teica: "Es lasu grāmatu." (She said: "I am reading a book.")
• Reported: Viņa teica, ka viņa lasa grāmatu. (She said that she is reading a book.)
• Or with past tense verb: Viņa teica, ka viņa lasīja grāmatu. (She said that she was reading a book.)

Pronoun Changes

Pronouns in the reported clause usually change to match the perspective of the reporter.

Common Reporting Verbs in Latvian

Some common verbs used to introduce reported speech include:

• sacīt (to say)
• teikt (to say)
• paziņot (to announce)
• apgalvot (to claim)
• jautāt (to ask)

Examples of Reported Speech in Latvian

Here are some examples illustrating reported speech with different tenses and pronouns.

• Direct: Viņš saka: "Es strādāju šeit." (He says: "I work here.") → Reported: Viņš saka, ka viņš strādā šeit. (He says that he works here.)
• Direct: Viņa teica: "Mēs braucām uz Rīgu." (She said: "We went to Riga.") → Reported: Viņa teica, ka viņi brauca uz Rīgu. (She said that they went to Riga.)
• Direct: Viņi jautāja: "Vai tu nāksi?" (They asked: "Will you come?") → Reported: Viņi jautāja, vai tu nāksi. (They asked if you will come.)

Using Questions in Reported Speech

When reporting questions, Latvian uses vai (if/whether) to introduce yes/no questions, and question words like kur (where), kad (when), kāpēc (why) for other questions.

Tips for English Speakers Learning Latvian Reported Speech

While Latvian reported speech shares similarities with English, pay attention to verb tense changes and pronoun adjustments. Practice with common reporting verbs and use ka and vai appropriately to form clear reported sentences.