noun
plain speech; direct speech
Archaic noun referring to straightforward, unadorned speech. Not used in modern Japanese; encountered only in classical texts.
古典では「徒言」は飾らない言葉を意味した。
In classical literature, '徒言' meant unadorned speech.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 徒, 只, and 直 all convey a sense of 'just' or 'direct', combined with 言 (speech). The reading ただごと is a compound of ただ (plain, ordinary) and こと (word, speech).