ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the theories on quotation with respect to their characterization of and implication for understanding the meaning of quotation. There are two types of quotation that take turns to become the main object of study of quotation: pure quotation and mixed quotation. The meaning of quotation is traditionally construed in terms of reference as early philosophers focus exclusively on pure quotation and elaborate on its reflexivity by invoking the concept of mention. The chapter reviews the main players in this field with an emphasis on the extent to which use and mention are accommodated in the semantic theorizing of quotation. The theories on quotation include name theory, minimal theory, demonstrative theory, and identity theory. The proper name theory is the first widely recognized theory of quotation. A recent development of quotation theories with an orientation toward mention is the minimal theory.
