saiddiction

Saidiction is a term used in linguistics and narrative studies to describe how authors convey dialogue and reported speech through the choice of attribution verbs and surrounding diction. It encompasses the range from explicit direct quotation with spoken tags to more indirect or mixed forms of reporting speech, focusing on how the reporting frame influences meaning, tone, and reader alignment with speakers.

Etymology and usage: The word combines said and diction and is primarily discussed in contemporary theoretical writings on voice and narrative stance. It is not widely standardized and appears as a diagnostic or descriptive axis in analyses of narrative technique.

Classification and effects: High saidiction features overt reporting verbs such as said, asserted, or whispered accompanied by direct quotes, signaling clear attribution and immediacy. Low saidiction relies on minimal attribution or blends with paraphrase, as in free indirect discourse, which can obscure speaker identity and create subtle tonal effects. The chosen level of saidiction can shape characterization, reliability, and narrative pace.

Examples: High saidiction: He looked away and said, "This ends now." Low saidiction: This ends now, he thought, turning away. The sentence sequence directs reader attention and interpretation through how speech is framed.

See also: Direct discourse, Indirect discourse, Free indirect discourse, Reporting verb.