Abstract: This study, based on the analysis of the quotations in English news reports, is aimed to study the use of quotation and its pragmatic functions, hoping that it can be a reference for the further study of quotation. The study begins from the classification of quotation, the transformation between direct and indirect speech and then it studies the pragmatic function of direct and indirect speech separately. More effort is put on the analysis of pragmatic functions indirect speech in English news texts from the perspectives of three important elements ---attribution, reporting verbs and modifiers. The study shows that the pragmatic functions of indirect speech are not only restricted to introducing the quoted words but involves the features, description of the speaker’s psychology and the setting。 

Key words: quotation; pragmatic study; indirect speech 

摘要：本文以对英语新闻报纸中引语的分析为基础，研究引语的使用状况及其语用功能，为进一步研究引语提供借鉴意义。本研究首先从引语的分类入手，分析了直接引语与间接引语的转换问题，然后分别探讨了直接引语和间接引语的语用功能。研究着重从间接引语的三个成分—归因、转述动词和修饰语的角度分析了间接引语在新闻语篇中的语用功能，揭示了间接引语的语用功能不仅仅限于引用语句而且包括语者的特征、心理描写和背景。

关键词：引语；语用分析；间接引语