Patterns Of Speech and Thought Presentation in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five: A Linguistic Critique

Abstract

This study intended to explore categories of speech and thought presentation in novel Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut along with the post-war experiences of characters presented through these categories. For this purpose, Speech and Thought presentation model by Leach and Short was applied on the novel by the researcher. Accordingly, this study reveals that in the novel Direct and Free Direct, Indirect and Free Indirect modes of discourse presentation are applied. For bringing the past experiences of the character and travelling in time forward and backward free indirect mode is used with their own (character’s) words rather than the words of narrator. Due to absence of reporting clause in Free Direct mode it becomes difficult to recognize who is speaking to whom? Furthermore, in the novel modes direct/indirect, free direct and free indirect thought presentation are used in the novel. Moreover, for portraying the character’s conscious free indirect mode of thought presentation is applied and also to create the sympathy and ridicule the character. More forthright, the Indirect Speech is applied to give information has a foundation impact. Post-war experiences of the character such as anger, frustration, fear, disillusionment, absurdity are presented through different modes of speech presentation. For portraying the real horrors of war direct and free direct mode is used frequently in order to feel the readers exactly what characters feel in the novel and show real horrible picture of war.

Keywords: Speech and thought presentation, post-war experiences, slaughterhouse-Five