Chapter 5 examines how reporting clauses with the quotative verb SAY are emergent constructions, and offers a comparative analysis of such reporting clauses in the 1978–1988 and 2003–2013 data sets from qualitative and quantitative perspectives. The analytic dimensions studied include the forms, and the semantics of (1) the subject which gives the evidential source, (2) the verb which conveys the act of saying and serves as a quotative, and (3) the optional indirect object and (4) circumstance adverbials. In addition, some of the uses and functions of reporting clauses are discussed. Based on further frequency counts, the conventionalisation and grammaticalisation of two specific clausal patterns are explored in a detailed interactional study.

Chapter 3 characterises the interaction at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) as an institutionalised, parliamentary activity in change, in which members of the House of Commons have engaged since the institutionalisation of PMQs in 1961. It is shown that – due to various extralinguistic factors –PMQs has undergone rapid change during the span of 36 years covered by the study. However, it is argued that the institutional backbone of the activity, i.e. the physical set-up of the Chamber, the mediated question–answer sequences as well as the third-person address system, has remained largely the same, which warrants a comparative perspective on the 1978–1988 and 2003–2013 data sets as representatives of the same activity in different times.

Chapter 6 is concerned with the different multimodal formats of reported clauses in the 1978–1988 and 2003–2013 data sets: direct, indirect and 'in between' speech. It is discussed how these formats have changed with respect to their forms and distribution over turn types and speaker roles, and shown that speakers from both periods are strikingly conservative in the contextualisation of the quotations, with indirect and ‘literalised’ direct speech representing the two dominating practices. While indirect speech is most frequent in both data sets, the 2003–2013 sample shows a rise of ‘literalised’ direct speech across turn types and speaker roles. It is argued that this development is indicative of a general tendency to authentication and authorisation in reported speech, which is achieved through the visual manipulation of (original) documents, and the use of the verbal formula (AND) I QUOTE. The latter also serves to perform mixed quotations, a practice not found in 1978–1988. It is concluded that the comparison between the 1978–1988 and 2003–2013 points to a general tendency towards greater credibility enhancement, and a more interpersonal style in quotations.

Chapter 7 offers an analysis of the organisation of reported speech in rhetorical structures characteristic to political oratory. Lists and contrast relations are found in the 1978–1988 and 2003–2013 data sets to deliver reported speech, while combined structures (list, contrast, and puzzle–solution) are only performed in the 2003–2013 sample in this context. The use of these rhetorical structures constitutes a speaker’s resource to accomplish a denser packaging of incisive messages presented as reported speech, and the findings show that this rhetorical effect has even been increased through a tighter chunking of 2003–2013 reported speech in list constructions, and the overall use of combined structures. Crucially, these rhetorical devices are functional in forming hostile actions in an engaging way, which the speakers from 2003–2013 deploy to rally their audiences behind them, leading to an audible (and visible) opposition and polarisation in the House which communicates in a more accessible, i.e., popularised, style to mediated audiences.

Chapter 9 offers a summary of findings and general conclusions with regard to (1) evidentiality in English, (2) constructions, interactions, and change, (3) the House of Commons as a community of practice in change (and Prime Minister’s Questions as an activity in change), and (4) the potential for a new research strand, Diachronic Interactional (Socio-)Linguistics.

Chapter 8 is concerned with the question of how a sharp increase in the use of reported speech, and the heightened prominence of the interaction between the LO and the PM in the 2003–2013 sample are related to the constitution of recurrent, patterned courses of action. The small sample of reported speech from 1978–1988 did not yield such courses of action where reported speech with SAY is relevant. This contrasts with the 2003–2013 sample, where two recurrent adversarial courses of action with a patterned use of reported speech were identified: enticing sequences and trading-quotes sequences. Here enticing sequences seem to be a more recent development. By contrast, there is early evidence for a precursor of trading-quotes sequences in the 1978–1988 sample

Chapter 4 describes the composition of the self-compiled data base for the study, which consists of two comparable data sets of authentic recordings of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) from 1978–1988 (audio) and 2003–2013 (video) as well of the respective Hansard files. It outlines how the language-external processes which have changed the interaction at PMQs between 1978–2013 provide the backdrop against which the evolution of reported speech is analysed. Specifically, it is argued that the composition of participation in the activity at PMQs has changed in correlation with the more prominent role of the Leader of the Opposition, and fostered a sharp increase of reported speech. It is demonstrated how the calculation of frequencies is conducted in relation to turn types and speaker roles. The chapter finally presents the transcription conventions and procedure, and discusses the basic methodological assumptions of the study.

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to this study, which analyses the recent change of quoting as an evidential practice based on data taken from authentic recordings of Prime Minister’s Questions during 1978–1988 and 2003–2013. The chapter presents the previous research background, and an outline of the subsequent chapters. Chapters 2–3 prepare the ground for the analysis, presenting a literature review of past relevant research. Chapters 4–8 comprise the analytic study. Chapter 9 summarises and concludes the findings.