Definition of direct speech

The concept that will occupy us in the present review presents a special use in the fields of communication and of the literature.

Literal reproduction of words, phrases, ideas, that are manifested in a speech or dialogue

Basically the direct speech implies the reproduction faithful to those words uttered by the individuals involved in a dialogue, that is, direct speech presents through words and expressions the succession of thoughts and ideas of the interlocutors.

That is, direct speech is direct communication between two or more individuals who are at the same time and place.

In direct speeches the reproduction of words, phrases, arguments, ideas is carried out in a literal, that is, as the person in question has said, making a direct quote of the words or thoughts of her, that They will be transcribed as she said them, with extreme fidelity in this sense, respecting, semicolons, as they say popularly.

My mother told my sister: "You have to take a coat because it will be cool at night."

And on the other hand, we can find indirect speech that is characterized by the fact that someone's sayings are reproduced adapted to the reference system of the person who expresses them.

Mom told my sister to take her coat because it will be cooler at night.

Signs that are used to highlight the literalness of what is expressed

It should be noted that in the written form the direct speech is placed a sign (-) which is precisely the one that will symbolize the dialogue, or failing that, the phrase expressed by one of the interlocutors in order to make it clear to the readers that these words were literally expressed and there has not been any type of modification, addition or deletion of what saying.

So when we see these signs of the sign - and of the "" we know that what is between them is what that a person has said, declared, or failing that the conversation that one or more had people.

In many cases, to cover themselves from claims or controversies for reproducing the sayings of other people, the narrators of a story use this Format to make it clear that they are not the ones who express this or that idea, but that they have been said by the people who clarify in the quotes.

For example, in literary works it is one of the resources more employees when presenting the conversations and dialogues that some of the characters have.

With an example we will further clarify the concept...

-Did Maria come? I've been waiting for you since twelve noon.
- Not yet, but don't worry, she tends to be late every day.
- I hope so, otherwise I could not stand his planted.

This resource is also frequently used in interviews published in printed publications, such as magazines or newspapers, media that They constantly present among their content reports to personalities from various fields, or to people who have been news about an event relevant.

Indirect speech: does not reproduce the dialogue verbatim

On the contrary, from the opposite sidewalk we find the indirect speech, which is precisely distinguished by not reproducing the dialogue textually, what the characters or interlocutors say.

In this case, there is a narrator who will be the one who tells what happens and what the characters involved said... Example, Juan arrived at the office where María works and was not there, so he decided to wait for her.

After several hours of waiting he asked one of her companions if she had gone and he confirmed that she had not but she told him that it is usual for her to be late.

In this type, signs such as the - are not used, but instead links such as: he said that, among others, that clearly show us to readers that it is a style or discourse indirect, in which the words expressed by the protagonists of the comments.

Topics in Direct Speech