Characteristics and functions of direct quotes in Hispanic fiction

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The application of pragmalinguistic methods of analysis to literature is often difficult due to the special and unique way language is used in a written literary work. Based on the assumption that literature is an act of communication, Isolde J. Jordan applies communication models, such as Bühler’s, Jacobson’s, and Ducrot’s, and theories of relevance, information and dialogue structure, and foregrounding to direct quotations taken from Hispanic fiction. Jordan shows how direct speech reporting can facilitate the interpretation of fiction by creating context, enhancing relevance, and by foregrounding information, and thus speaking directly to the reader.