Direct and Indirect Speech: Understanding the Differences and How to Use Them
Direct speech and indirect speech are two fundamental ways of reporting discourse in a text. Whether in literature, newspapers, academic essays, or everyday conversation, these two forms are ubiquitous. But what exactly are the differences between them? When and how to use them? This blog explores these two modes of discourse in depth, explains their definitions, analyzes their specificities, and presents examples to better understand them.
- What is direct speech?
Direct speech is a style of narration in which the words or thoughts of a character or person are reported exactly as they were spoken, without editing. It involves quoting someone word for word, including the punctuation marks that surround those words, such as quotation marks, dashes, or other forms of punctuation.
Example of direct speech:
- John said, "I'm going to the market."
In this example, John's sentence is reproduced exactly as he said it, in quotation marks. This gives a sense of immediacy and fidelity to the way the words were spoken.
- Characteristics of direct speech
Direct speech is characterized by several key elements:
Punctuation:
Direct speech is usually introduced by a speech verb (such as say, shout, declare, ask), followed by quotation marks or dashes. Quotation marks clearly indicate the beginning and end of the quotation.
Example: She asked, “What are you doing tonight?”
Intonation and direct expression:
In direct speech, the speaker's intonation is often perceptible. This helps to make dialogues more lively and expressive. Emotions such as anger, surprise or joy are easier to convey.
Example: He shouted: “Watch out!”
Marks of subjectivity:
Direct speech bears the marks of the speaker's subjectivity: his vocabulary, his speech tics, his tone, etc. Thus, the reader has a precise idea of the way the character speaks.
Example: “Are you kidding me?” she replied, laughing.
Verb tenses:
In direct speech, verbs remain in the same tense as in real conversation. If the speaker uses the present tense, the reported sentence remains in the present tense.
Example: He says, “I’m tired.”
- What is indirect speech?
Indirect speech , on the other hand, involves reporting what someone else said without quoting them exactly. The speaker rephrases the words in his or her own words, often changing the grammatical structure of the sentence.
Example of indirect speech:
- Jean says he is going to the market.
In this example, the idea of the original sentence remains the same, but the form has been changed. There are no more quotation marks and the words are adapted to fit into the narrative.
- Characteristics of indirect speech
Indirect speech has its own specificities, which clearly differentiate it from direct speech:
The absence of quotation marks:
Unlike direct speech, quotation marks are not used in indirect speech. This means that reported speech is integrated into the structure of the text without being directly quoted.
Example: She asked me what I was doing tonight.
Pronoun changes:
Pronouns often change in indirect speech. The speaker becomes "he" or "she," depending on who is speaking. This allows for better integration of the words into the narrative.
Example :
- Direct speech: He says: “I’m leaving tomorrow.”
- Indirect speech: He says he is leaving tomorrow.
Changes in verb tenses:
The transition from direct to indirect speech often involves a change in the tense of the verb. For example, if the verb in direct speech is in the present tense, it may change to the imperfect tense in indirect speech, especially if the spoken verb is in the past tense.
Example :
- Direct speech: She says: “I am happy.”
- Indirect speech: She said she was happy.
Changes in interrogative words and conjunctions:
In indirect speech, direct questions become indirect. For example, instead of "What are you doing?", we can say "He asked me what I was doing." Conjunctions such as "that" or "if" are also often used to introduce subordinate clauses.
Example :
- Direct speech: “Will you come tomorrow?”
- Indirect speech: He asked me if I would come the next day.
- When to use direct speech and indirect speech?
The choice between direct speech and indirect speech depends on the style, context, and intentions of the narrator. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on what one wishes to accomplish.
Direct Speech: Creating Immediacy and Authenticity
Direct speech is great for creating a lively atmosphere in dialogue or for reporting important words exactly as they were spoken. It helps make characters more alive and authentic, giving them a unique voice.
It is widely used in dialogues of novels, plays or screenplays, where the interactions between characters play a central role.
Indirect Speech: Facilitating Smooth and Objective Narration
Indirect speech, on the other hand, is useful when the narrator wants to report what was said without getting bogged down in details. It is less dramatic, but it allows for better integration of the words into the narrative. It also allows the narrator to add nuance or give an interpretation of the reported words.
It is often used in news articles, academic essays, or third-person narratives.
Direct and indirect freedom of speech: a third option?
Between direct speech and indirect speech, there is an intermediate form called free indirect speech . This form combines elements of both styles. The words are reported without quotation marks, but the style and intonations of direct speech are preserved. The speaker therefore appears to be speaking directly, even if his words are not exactly quoted.
Example :
- Direct speech: She says to herself: “What a boring man!”
- Indirect speech: She thought he was boring.
- Free indirect speech: What a boring man, she thought.
Free indirect discourse is often used in literature to immerse the reader in a character's thoughts or reflections, while maintaining a certain narrative distance.
Pitfalls to avoid
It is important to pay attention to tense agreement when moving from direct to indirect speech. If the main verb is in the past tense, the other verbs must agree accordingly.