Direct or quoted speech is spoken or written text that reports speech or thought in its original form phrased by the original speaker; in narrative, it is usually enclosed in quotation marks[1] but can be enclosed in guillemets. The cited speaker is either mentioned in the inquit (Latin "he/she says") or implied.
Comparison between direct, indirect, and free indirect speech
- Quoted or direct speech:[a]
- He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. "And just what pleasure have I found since I came into this world?" he asked.
- Reported or normal indirect speech:[a]
- He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. He asked himself what pleasure he had found since he came into the world.
- Free indirect speech:[a]
- He laid down his bundle and thought of his misfortune. And just what pleasure had he found since he came into this world?
A crucial semantic distinction between direct and indirect speech is that direct speech purports to report the exact words that were said or written, whereas indirect speech is a representation of speech in one's own words.[1]
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