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Direct speech is reporting word for word what a speaker said, while indirect speech uses paraphrasing. Direct speech is used in prose and can provide clues about a character’s personality. However, it can also be misinterpreted and requires accurate note-taking. Indirect speech is safer when receiving secondhand information.
Direct speech is the practice of reporting word for word what a speaker said. It contrasts with indirect speech, where the author uses paraphrasing to convey a speaker’s meaning. The purpose of a direct speech method is to convey something exactly as it was said and provides the reader with the assurance that the words were the exact words used by the speaker in the conversation. The method has some advantages in writing, but also some disadvantages.
The easiest way to determine direct speech from indirect speech is simply to look at the punctuation used. Quotes are a good sign that an author is using the direct speech method in a text. Generally, in written communication, quotation marks should be used whenever portraying an exact word-for-word rendering of a speaker. While you can use quotation marks in other situations, using other words, like he said or said, can also provide clues along with punctuation.
Typically, direct speech is used in prose, rather than rhythmic writing, such as poetry and song. This is simply due to the difficulty of making ordinary speech constraining to the limitations that other forms of writing may place upon it. While it is not impossible, and has been done successfully by some writers, most tend to use indirect speech in prosaic text.
There are many benefits to using direct speech in writing, whether in fiction or non-fiction. In fiction, the method can help break up the monotony of the text and provide the reader with clues about the education level and personality of individual characters. In non-fiction, it can be used so that the reader doesn’t have to worry about an author misinterpreting another party’s words.
In nonfiction writing, there may also be a number of disadvantages to using a direct speech method. In some cases, a speaker’s selective quotation may still be open to interpretation, especially if the author uses a quotation inappropriately, such as by taking it out of its original context. Also, the author must ensure that the speaker has used the exact words that appear in the quotes, which may mean taking detailed notes or using a recording device of some sort. Authors should be especially careful if they receive secondhand information about what a speaker has said. In that case, indirect speech would be the safest option.
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