Linguistic features and pragmatic functions of direct reported speech in Italian troubles telling sequences

This article aims to investigate possible linguistic features and pragmatic functions of Direct Reported Speech (DRS) in a specific conversational context, which seems to favour the emerging of this phenomenon: the trouble telling sequence. The study, conducted on a corpus of naturally occurring interactions in Italian, describes some characteristics of this linguistic device from both a qualitative and a quantitative point of view, by analysing how and for what purposes it can be used. DRS produced by the Troubles Teller mostly aims to account for their point of view, to complain and criticise, to express feelings and emotions and to anticipate future behaviour; the Trouble Recipient uses DRS mainly to express support towards the conversational partner and to give advice.