Rationale
English is now the most widely used language globally, often referred to as a "global language." It plays a crucial role in international business, politics, cultural relations, and education The widespread use of English fosters closer connections between countries, enabling them to collaboratively address challenges and work towards a prosperous global community.
Realizing the significance of English, Vietnamese learners have been trying to be good at English Mastering English is the aim of each learner
Vietnamese learners often find English grammar challenging, particularly in mastering direct and indirect speech, especially the conversion from direct to indirect speech They frequently encounter difficulties with tense changes, possessive adjectives, personal pronouns, and adverbials of time and place To aid learners in understanding these concepts and using indirect speech accurately in both writing and speaking, the research paper titled "A Study on Direct and Indirect Speech in English" has been selected Additionally, the paper identifies common mistakes and offers practical solutions.
Aims of the study
The study “A study on direct and indirect speech in English” is aimed at:
1 Helping learners understand how to form direct and indirect speech, use it correctly as well
2 Describing and classifying all the cases of the of changing direct to indirect speech
3 Finding out common errors made by Vietnamese learners and suggesting some solutions
My study methodology is grounded in insights gained from previous lectures by my teachers, along with the valuable support of my supervisor and friends Additionally, I have consulted various books and resources published by reputable organizations such as Longman Group (FE) Ltd and Oxford University.
To enhance learners' comprehension of direct and indirect speech, this study draws definitions, analyses, and examples from reputable sources, including Quirk & Greenbaum (1973), Alexander (1988), and Thomson (1985) Additionally, the research incorporates various documents sourced from trustworthy websites.
Mastering direct and indirect speech is a challenging aspect of language learning, as each language has its unique characteristics This article focuses specifically on English, exploring its definitions, basic forms, and common rules regarding direct and indirect speech Additionally, it addresses the difficulties and errors that Vietnamese learners may encounter and offers practical solutions based on my personal learning experiences.
The research study is divided into three parts of which the second part is the most important one
The introduction outlines the rationale behind selecting the study topic, detailing the objectives of the research It also describes the methodologies employed, defines the scope of the study, and presents the overall design of the research.
Part two refers to the main content that consists of three chapters :
Chapter I provides the theoretical foundation for the study, focusing on the definitions, basic forms, and grammatical functions of direct and indirect speech in English It includes an overview of the conversion process from direct to indirect speech, highlighting the use of punctuation marks, the verbs "say" and "tell," alternative introductory verbs, and the treatment of questions and commands in indirect speech.
Chapter II is the main part of the study, describes the changes from direct speech to indirect speech This chapter deals with six problems :
Changes in use of pointer words
Mixed types in indirect speech
Chapter III is the last part of the research paper It focuses on some errors made by Vietnamese learners & solutions suggested to over come the problems
In the conclusion of this study, I summarize the key points discussed in the previous sections, provide a list of references utilized throughout the research, and include exercises designed to reinforce understanding and practice of the material.
I AN OVERVIEW OF DIRECT & INDIRECT SPEECH IN ENGLISH I.1 Definition
There are various linguists who explore direct and indirect speech in English, each offering unique definitions Thomson (1985, p 269) states that "In direct speech we repeat the original speaker's exact words," exemplified by the phrase: He said, "I have lost my umbrella." This definition aligns closely with the description on Learn English, which defines direct speech as "Saying exactly what someone has said" and notes the use of quotation marks Similarly, Grammaring emphasizes that in direct speech, we quote someone's words verbatim, using inverted commas to enclose the original utterance.
Direct speech is defined as the exact words spoken by an individual, and it is utilized when we communicate directly with the listener In writing, direct speech involves quoting the original speaker's words verbatim, which enhances clarity and authenticity in dialogue.
Indirect speech conveys the precise meaning of a statement or remark without requiring the use of the speaker's exact words, as defined by Thomson (1985, p 269).
Ex : He said (that) he had lost his umbrella
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is a way of conveying what someone has said without using quotation marks, and it does not require a verbatim account When using indirect speech, the tense of the original statement typically shifts to reflect that it is being reported in the past For example, if someone says, "I'm going to the cinema," in indirect speech, it would be reported as, "He said he was going to the cinema." Additionally, changes in time expressions and pronouns often occur to fit the context of the reporting.
I 2 Forms of direct and indirect speech in writing structure
Quoted structures, often referred to as direct speech, are composed of two clauses: a reporting clause and a statement The reporting clause includes a reporting verb, such as in the example, “I love England,” he said, where “he said” serves as the reporting clause.
The other part is the quote “I love England”, which represents what someone says or has said
[Hartley, 2005, p83] Here is the table of form of direct speech in writing structure :
According to Quirk (1985), the reporting clause can appear before, within, or after direct speech, with the medial position being quite common When the reporting clause is placed either medially or at the end, subject-verb inversion may happen if the verb is in the simple present or simple past tense.
Ex : „As a result,‟ said John / John said, “I am very angry” (*)
„The radio is too loud,‟ Elizabeth complained / she complained
Inversion typically occurs when the verb is stated, the subject is not a pronoun, and the reporting clause is placed in the middle However, it is considered unusual and somewhat archaic when the subject of the reporting clause is a pronoun, even if the verb is "said" (e.g., "said he").
Actual spoken statement Actual spoken question
„I‟m waiting.‟ „When did you arrive, John?‟
Direct statement in writing Direct question in writing
„I‟m waiting.‟ John said „When did you arrive, John?‟ Mary asked
The primary distinctions between Direct Speech and Indirect Speech in English are the absence of quotation marks in Indirect Speech and the use of a quotative frame, which includes an attributed speaker and a verb of saying, followed by a conjunction Additionally, the intonation in Indirect Speech varies significantly from that in Direct Speech, especially when reporting questions.
[Yule, 1998, p272] Within the reported clause, a number of distinct shifts can be found
Ex : a Clinton said, “I am very busy now.” b Clinton said that he was very busy then
[www.english-for-students.com/DirecttoIndirectSpeech.html] a „I have lived here for years,‟ Ms Duncan said b Ms Duncan told me (that) she had lived there for years
[Alexander, 1988, p290] a She said, “It'll rain tomorrow.” b She told me it would rain the following day
The examples provided demonstrate various tense forms of verbs, such as transforming present tense into past tense, and shifting time references from "tomorrow" to "the following day" and "now" to "then." Additionally, the article highlights changes in place references, converting "here" to "there," and adjustments in pronouns, such as changing "I" to "he" and "you" to "her."
I 3 Function of direct and indirect speech
According to Quirk (1985, p1022) the direct speech functions as a subordinate clause:
Direct speech seems to be a direct object
Ex : She said, “I've been teaching English for seven years.”
Direct speech can function as subject complement in a pseudo-cleft construction
Ex : What Dorothy said was „My mother‟s on the phone.‟
[Quirk, 1985, p1022] Direct speech may be appositive to a unit that is clearly a part or the whole of the direct object:
Ex : Dorothy used the following words : „My mother‟s on the phone.‟