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indirect discourse

 

Definitions from WordNet

Noun indirect discourse has 1 sense
  1. indirect discourse - a report of a discourse in which deictic terms are modified appropriately (e.g., "he said `I am a fool' would be modified to `he said he is a fool'")
    --1 is a kind of
    report, account
    Antonyms: direct discourse, direct quotation

Definitions from the Web

Indirect Discourse

Description

Indirect discourse, also known as indirect speech or reported speech, refers to the reporting of someone's words or thoughts indirectly, rather than directly quoting them. In indirect discourse, the reported speech is transformed into a subordinate clause and may involve changes in tense, pronouns, and other grammatical elements. This powerful linguistic tool allows writers and speakers to convey others' statements without using direct quotations.

Sense 1: Grammar

In grammar, indirect discourse is used to report statements, questions, requests, and other speech acts indirectly, often used in written narratives, interviews, and formal reports. By using indirect discourse, writers can provide additional context and interpretation to the reported speech.

Example sentence:

"She told me she was going to the concert," Maria said in indirect discourse, relaying her friend's plans.

Sense 2: Literary Device

Indirect discourse is a literary device employed by authors to represent characters' speech or thoughts indirectly, usually used for stylistic or dramatic effects. It enables writers to subtly incorporate the characters' perspectives while maintaining narrative fluency.

Example sentence:

Through the masterful use of indirect discourse, the author skillfully conveyed the protagonist's inner turmoil.

Sense 3: Rhetoric

In rhetoric, indirect discourse is used to paraphrase or summarize a speaker's words or ideas while preserving their meaning. It allows speakers to present conversations or speeches briefly or concisely, emphasizing the key points of the original discourse.

Example sentence:

During the political speech, the candidate utilized indirect discourse to summarize her opponent's viewpoints accurately and persuasively.

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