The aim of this paper is to examine the presence and function of indirect speech in the language of comics, which, as we know, is a form of expression of a special kind, in which traditionally separate codes such as image and word, written and spoken language merge. In this context, it may be particularly interesting to examine how a form of expression such as indirect speech, which has to do with linguistic and cognitive skills that we employ in both oral and written use of a historically natural language, finds its place in a genre such as comics, which in fact fuses written and oral features. Starting from a sample of comics (graphic novels, noir, and historical fairy tale), we will analyse where indirect speech is placed in balloons or captions and what functions it fulfills, depending on whether it is verba dicendi, verba interrogandi, or performative verbs that are not in the first person. These functions are understood in terms of their illocutionary value, e.g., to report what has been said/referred to/asked, etc. by others, to report/hear something known, to express a doubt/uncertainty/opinion, etc., to express a request/wish/opportunity, etc.
La presenza del discorso indiretto nella lingua dei fumetti: un confronto tra il graphic novel, il noir e il racconto storico
GRAZIA BASILE
2023-01-01
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine the presence and function of indirect speech in the language of comics, which, as we know, is a form of expression of a special kind, in which traditionally separate codes such as image and word, written and spoken language merge. In this context, it may be particularly interesting to examine how a form of expression such as indirect speech, which has to do with linguistic and cognitive skills that we employ in both oral and written use of a historically natural language, finds its place in a genre such as comics, which in fact fuses written and oral features. Starting from a sample of comics (graphic novels, noir, and historical fairy tale), we will analyse where indirect speech is placed in balloons or captions and what functions it fulfills, depending on whether it is verba dicendi, verba interrogandi, or performative verbs that are not in the first person. These functions are understood in terms of their illocutionary value, e.g., to report what has been said/referred to/asked, etc. by others, to report/hear something known, to express a doubt/uncertainty/opinion, etc., to express a request/wish/opportunity, etc.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
