Indirect speech, also known as reported speech or indirect discourse, refers to the reporting or retelling of someone else's words or thoughts without quoting them verbatim. It involves expressing someone's statements, questions, commands, or thoughts indirectly, by using reported speech markers such as verbs, pronouns, tenses, and adverbs.
In indirect speech, the speaker or writer typically summarizes or paraphrases what was originally said or thought, while still conveying the meaning and intent of the original message. This allows for a more flexible and cohesive way of reporting someone's words or thoughts in writing or conversation.
The structure of indirect speech entails a change in pronouns, verb tenses, adverbs of time and place, and sometimes word order. For instance, direct speech "I am going to the store," would be transformed into indirect speech as "He said that he was going to the store."
Indirect speech serves multiple purposes, such as conveying information or reporting conversations accurately, relaying someone's thoughts or feelings, or maintaining a formal tone in writing. It is commonly used in news articles, interviews, storytelling, and in situations where direct quotation is not appropriate or necessary.
Overall, indirect speech provides a way to refer to others’ speech or thoughts indirectly, enhancing communication and facilitating the sharing of information and ideas in a coherent and concise manner.
