Topic 10 (session A) - Prose analysis > Bilgewater: Speech & thought presentation > Task B > Our answer

Bilgewater: Speech & thought presentation

Task B - Our answer

These are all direct speech (DS). They occur inside inverted commas and all of their deictic properties are appropriate for the speaker. They are the only instances of speech presentation that occur in the second interview (there are none at all in relation to the first), and they effectively mark the standard way in which interviews are ended (by asking the candidate if he or she has any questions). So none of the meat of the interview is presented, and indeed rather more of the space devoted to the second interview is reserved for presenting the thoughts of the candidate. Ass a consequence, the dramatic DS form seems like a rather sudden intrusion into the thought process she is involved in as the interview proceeds. This dramatic effect is increased by virtue of the fact that there are no reporting clauses, and so we don't know the precise identity of the person who asked the question.

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