Differences Between Direct And Indirect Speech With Examples: Speech refers to the totality of using vocals to communicate. Speech is treated as an independent topic in English language. The topic is all encompassing for it has to do it both oral and written speech and the way they are done. It is quite a broad topic because speech can be in many forms and types. But the scope of this article is limited to direct and indirect speech. It is very necessary to know and understand when speech is direct or indirect both for written and spoken English. The type of speech and the manner in which it is represented in writing also determines how the sentence is communicated or pronounced.
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Meaning Of Direct speech
Direct speech refers to the writing of speech using the exact words of the speaker. In a direct speech, the representation of what the speaker said is enclosed in quotation mark. Direct speech, from the word “direct” implies that the speech maintains the manner it was made by the speaker without any deviation or interruption.
The aim of direct speech to represent what the speaker has said as it were, without any alteration. A speech being direct does not necessarily entail that it is only the direct speaker that can convey it.
In fact, the essence of the distinction between direct and indirect speech and the rules guiding them is for the purposes of reporting the speech, so that while being reported, it maintains the originality of the speech. Thus, a direct speech requires that the exact words of the speaker be quoted as they were said.
Direct speech can be reported but not in the sense of being a reported speech. What is meant is that a second person can relay the information. More so, the original speaker of a direct speech can also be the one reporting same, as long as he maintains the original statement by quoting himself. Direct speech is also referred to as direct discourse.
Meaning of Indirect speech
Indirect speech is the opposite of direct speech. An indirect speech is susceptible to interruptions and alterations. Notably, the speech is a reported one in the strictest sense of it. Thus, the reporter of an indirect speech simply tries to convey the direct message of the speaker, but with some modifications. Hence, the exact words of the speaker are not used.
However, the meaning of the statement intended by the original speaker is not lost. It is the responsibility of the reporter to maintain the meaning intended by the original statement but not necessarily its exact composition. The reporter, therefore, employs paraphrasing to convey the original message.
Another name for indirect speech is reported speech. In a reported speech, quotation mark is not employed to enclose any part of the speech. Thus, the speech is allowed to flow freely because the reporter merely narrates the original speech as opposed to quoting it.
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Differences between direct and indirect speech
1. Direct speech refers to the act of quoting the exact words of the speaker, that is, without any alteration as to form or content whereas indirect speech refers to the act of reporting the original statement of another in one’s own words.
Example of a direct speech: Peter said to me, “I shall become the president when the time is due”.
Example of an indirect speech: Peter told me that he shall become the president when the time is due.
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2. Direct speech is also referred to as direct discourse or quoted speech, whereas another name for indirect speech is reported speech.
3. For direct speech, the point of view of the communication is that of the speaker. On the other hand, the communication point of view of an indirect speech is that of the listener.
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4. A direct speech can be reported by the original speaker as well. For example: At the opening statement of yesterday’s event I said thus: “There shall be heroes and legends from this bedrock”. This instance is simply the original speaker quoting what he had previously said. It is still a direct speech. Also, the original speaker can also report his speech as indirect.
For example: I encouraged them that heroes and legends shall arise from this bedrock. On the other hand, from the point of view of the listener, the original statement remains a direct speech of the original speaker while the reporter merely conveys the speech using his own choice of words.
5. While quoting a direct speech, there is usually a little breach of flow in the narration due to the use of comma and quotation mark. Even while communicating the speech verbally, these breaches are observed as well. In English language, the use of comma implies a pause in between sentence.
When the quotation mark is employed, the first sentence following it begins with capital letter. This shows that the flow of the narration has been broken. This is not so for an indirect or reported speech, for they flow incessantly and there is no use of comma and quotation mark.
Example in sentence: Obi said, “I have super powers” Here, a gap is observed in the flow of the narration.
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Example 2: Obi said that he has super powers. This illustrates a reported speech which has an uninterrupted flow in its narration. There is no comma or quotation mark employed.
6. When a tense is used in a direct speech by the speaker, that same tense used by the speaker is maintained when quoting the direct speech. What the reporter merely does is to replicate the exact words of the speaker and nothing more or less should be added or removed from it. On the other hand, in an indirect speech, the reporter is freely modifies the original statement to suit his convenience. Thus, in the course of the modification, the tenses used may be altered as well.
For example: Fatima said, I have been in this condition for quite some time now. This sentence is in present continuous tense. While reporting the speech as indirect, the reporter can employ past continuous tense. For example: Fatima said that she had been in that condition for quite some time now. This is in past continuous tense. On a further illustration: She said, “I feel so bad.” (This is a direct speech made in simple present tense). In its indirect form, it may read this way: She said, “I felt so bad.”(This is an indirect speech made in simple past tense).
It is noteworthy, however, that in reporting both direct and indirect speech, where the claim is a universal truth, it will not be necessary to alter the tense. Changing the tense of the statement may alter its meaning or render the sentence grammatically wrong, as the case may be. For example: The town crier repeatedly said, “The sun is in the sky.” (This is a direct speech and a universal truth). Its indirect form reads thus: The town crier repeatedly said that the sun is in the sky. The consistent use of “is” in the both sentences maintained its tense as it were. Putting the tense otherwise (for instance, changing “is” to “was” renders it grammatically wrong.
Conclusion: The use of speech in English language is relevant both in writing and in oral speech. Oral speech are rendered or spoken just in the manner they are written, and also, verbal speeches are written just the way they are spoken. In whichever case, the mastery of direct and indirect speech, particularly how they are used in sentence is one large essence, for they are implicit in day-to-day use of English as written and spoken language.
Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.