Otsekõnede

Otsekõne, whose genitive plural is otsekõnede, is the Estonian term for direct speech in grammar. It denotes the reporting of someone’s exact spoken words as they were uttered.

Direct speech is typically introduced by a reporting verb such as ütleb, ütles, küsib or vastab and is usually set off with quotation marks or other typographic marks. The quoted material can be a single sentence or a sequence of sentences, and it may appear within narrative prose or in dialogue form. In written text, the direct speech often stands as a separate unit, sometimes following a colon after the reporting clause.

Direct speech contrasts with kaudne kõne, or indirect speech, where the content is paraphrased and the exact wording is not reproduced. In otsekõne the original wording, punctuation, and sometimes prosodic cues are preserved to convey the speaker’s meaning, tone, and emphasis.

Punctuation and formatting conventions for otsekõne vary by style guide. Common approaches include placing the quotation inside the reporting clause with a colon, or presenting each new speaker’s lines on separate lines or with dashes in narrative dialogue. The choice of quotation marks and line breaks helps readers distinguish between the speaker and the narrator.

Usage and style: Otsekõnede is prevalent in fiction, journalism, transcripts, and interviews where exact words are important. Clear attribution to the speaker and consistent quotation style are essential for readability and linguistic precision.

See also: Kaudne kõne, Kirjandus ja retoorika. References are found in Estonian grammar handbooks and style guides.