I'm having trouble knowing when to use って or 言った when I want to say someone
**said** something (past tense).

Naturally, since it is past tense, I always want to use 言った. But having
watched many j-drama episodes, had voice convos with Japanese people (mostly
females) on LINE, and watched Japanese people broadcast their webcams on
TwitCast (again, mostly females), I seem to hear って a lot more than 言った when
someone is referring to something that was said.

If I had to guess, it seems that って is used to refer to things that are
currently being said, being relayed, or was _RECENTLY_ said in the past.
Whereas 言った is used for something that was _definitely said in the past_ , and
not used for something that was necessarily said recently.

Can anyone share any insight on when to use one or the other, when its okay to
use both, or when its just not natural to use one or the other? Anything
gender-specific I should be aware of?

It would help immensely with my listening and speaking skills!

Thank you so much!
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2015-12-16T01:05:38.443
29876
2015-12-29T04:08:24.150
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question
word-choice usage nuances tense
When to use って or 言った
Formally, you use 「ナニナニと言{い}いました。」.  
This is the original/basic one and I think you know it.

> 部長{ぶちょう}はそのパソコンを使わない{つかわない}と言いました。  
>  Manager said don't use that PC.

In order to make a quote to be sounds more like a quote, you can use `って`
instead of `と`, like「ナニナニって言いました」 / ナニナニって言いました」

As you said about drama, friends and friends don't talk formally, it will then
be 「ナニナニって言った」. Because you don't want to repeat and repeat, keep saying 言った,
it becomes「ナニナニって」.

> 彼女{かのじょ}が食べたく{たべたく}ないって  
>  She said she doesn't want to eat.

**More examples:**

  1. Quoting what other said:

> 欲しい{ほしい}って言われても  
>  although you said you want, ...

  2. Quoting what other said:

> 「大丈夫{だいじょうぶ}...」「大丈夫って、血が流れてるよ！」  
>  "It's fine..." "Fine? it's bleeding!"

  3. Asking what is...: *

> 「IMAXって何？」  
>  What is IMAX?

  4. To start a topic of a subject (usually a person) *

> ジョンって、日本語{にほんご}勉強{べんきょう}してる？  
>  John, you studying Japanese?

(* is not about "who is saying something")

Hope it helps ^_^
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-29T04:08:24.150
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2015-12-29T04:08:24.150
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answer