Direct and indirect speech in English and Arabic : (a contrastive study)‎

Abstract EN

Speech is a tool of communication and without speech, people cannot understand each other.

Thus, this study concerns to clarify the direct and indirect speech because it is difficult to be distinguished by foreign speakers.

Thus, this study tries to differentiate between English and Arabic.

Arabic differs from English in using the absent pronouns only in an indirect speech, while in English, the 3rd person singular pronouns are used in indirect speech.

The researcher tries to clarify the direct and indirect speech in English and Arabic.

The study proposes the following hypotheses: the indirect speech in English and direct speech in Arabic can be expressed in past tense while the direct speech in English can be expressed in (past, present, and future) but indirect speech expressed in past tense only.

In Arabic, the direct speech can be expressed in present only whereas indirect speech can be expressed in past tense.

The study proves the validity of these hypotheses.