What is another word for direct discourse?
Pronunciation: [da͡ɪɹˈɛkt dˈɪskɔːs] (IPA) 
Direct discourse, also called direct speech, refers to the exact words spoken by a character in a story or conversation. There are several synonyms for direct discourse, including reported speech, quoted speech, and verbatim speech. Reported speech refers to when the words spoken by a character are indirectly relayed by the narrator or another character. Quoted speech refers to the direct reproduction of a character's exact words, typically set off by quotation marks. Verbatim speech is another term for word-for-word reporting of a character's speech. No matter the synonym used, direct discourse is a powerful tool for bringing characters to life and advancing the narrative in a story.
