Ideological functions of reported speech in the process of language shift: The case of the Serbs of Bela Krajina

The article deals with ideological functions of direct and indirect speech the discursive forms which, due to their reflexive potential, enable speakers to express their views on social reality through language use. The use of reported speech combined with code switching enables speakers to establish various relations and attitudes towards other members of their community as well as towards other communities' members. For the members of the oldest generation of the Serbs of Bela Krajina, reported speech is also employed to express authority, which is one of the principal ideological dimensions that may be read out from their discourse.