TOPICS: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech
Keywords
- Dialogue
- Narration
- Quotation
- Speech markers
- Punctuation
- Speech
- Account
- Reporting verbs
- Quotation marks
- Dash
Key Questions
- What characterizes direct speech?
- How is indirect speech structured?
- What are the differences in punctuation between direct and indirect speech?
- Which verbs are commonly used to introduce indirect speech?
- How to convert direct speech into indirect speech and vice versa?
Crucial Topics for Understanding
- Identification of character dialogues
- Use of specific punctuation to delimit direct speech
- Use of reporting verbs in indirect speech
- Adaptation of verb tenses when changing speech
- Changes in speech persons when transitioning from direct to indirect
Specifics: Vocabulary
- Direct Speech: Exact reproduction of the speaker's words; marked by punctuation such as quotation marks and dash.
- Indirect Speech: Paraphrase of the speaker's words; does not use signals like quotation marks and dash, but rather integrative conjunctions like "that".
- Reporting Verbs: Verbs used to introduce speeches or thoughts, such as "said", "stated", "asked".
- Speech Markers: Linguistic elements, such as punctuation and conjunctions, that help identify and organize direct and indirect speech.
NOTES: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech
- Direct Speech
- Exact reproduction of the speaker's words.
- Specific punctuation: use of quotation marks or dash.
- The narrator's presence is minimized; focus on the character's voice.
- Verb tense and grammatical person are maintained according to the original speech.
- Indirect Speech
- Report or paraphrase of what was said, without exact quotation.
- Uses integrative conjunctions like "that" to introduce the speech.
- Adaptation of verb tenses and grammatical persons.
- The narrator has a stronger presence, recounting the character's words.
- Reporting Verbs
- Verbs that indicate the action of speaking, thinking, or feeling.
- Examples: "said", "declared", "responded", "thought".
- Essential to introduce indirect speech.
- Speech Markers
- Elements like quotation marks, dashes, and conjunctions organize the speech.
- Highlight the shift between the narrator's voice and the characters' voices.
- Examples of Direct Speech
- Maria exclaimed: "What a wonderful day!"
- João asked: "Are you coming with me to the movies?"
- "I need to study for the test tomorrow," Pedro reminded.
- Examples of Indirect Speech
- Maria exclaimed that it was a wonderful day.
- João asked if she would go with him to the movies.
- Pedro reminded that he needed to study for the test the next day.
- Conversion from Direct to Indirect Speech
- Removal of quotation marks or dash.
- Inclusion of a reporting verb and an integrative conjunction.
- Adaptation of tenses and grammatical persons to agree with the narrative context.
- Conversion from Indirect to Direct Speech
- Inclusion of appropriate punctuation to delimit the speech (quotation marks/dash).
- Adjustment of verb tenses and persons to reflect the original speech.
- Expressions from the character and enriching details can be included in the speech.
Practical Scenario
- Reading a dialogue excerpt in a story, distinguishing whether it is in direct or indirect speech.
- Transforming dialogues from a book from indirect to direct speech and vice versa.
- Analyzing the author's choices regarding the use of a type of speech in specific narrative contexts.
SUMMARY: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech
Summary of the most relevant points:
- Direct Speech: Characterized by the faithful reproduction of characters' speech, indicating liveliness and direct interaction. Uses punctuation such as quotation marks and dashes.
- Indirect Speech: Presents a report of characters' speeches indirectly and is indicated by the absence of quotation marks, the use of integrative conjunctions, and the adaptation of verb tenses.
- Reporting Verbs: Essential to indicate the act of speaking in indirect speech, such as "said", "stated", and "asked".
- Speech Markers: Punctuations and conjunctions that help differentiate and structure the types of speech.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech is essential for analyzing narrative texts and for the clear and intentional expression of ideas.
- The choice between direct and indirect speech influences the perception of immediacy and distance in a narrative.
- Punctuation is a key element in identifying direct speech, while the integrative conjunction is a common marker of indirect speech.
- The ability to convert direct speech into indirect and vice versa is an important skill that enhances expressive possibilities when reporting speeches and thoughts.
- Analyzing the use of direct and indirect speech in different texts enhances the understanding of the impact of each approach in the narrative context.
