1. Diction and Vocabulary:
* Formal vs. Informal: Formal speech indicates education, sophistication, or perhaps a desire to impress. Informal speech suggests comfort, familiarity, or perhaps a lack of education. Slang and colloquialisms pinpoint a character's social group and background.
* Complex vs. Simple Sentences: Complex sentence structures suggest intelligence and thoughtfulness, while simpler sentences might indicate a lack of education or a more direct, less thoughtful approach.
* Specific Word Choices: The words a character chooses (e.g., synonyms for "angry," like "furious," "irate," "livid") reveal their emotional state and perspective. A character who frequently uses euphemisms might be hiding something or avoiding uncomfortable truths.
2. Syntax and Tone:
* Sentence Length and Structure: Short, choppy sentences can convey urgency, fear, or excitement. Long, flowing sentences might suggest calmness, reflection, or eloquence.
* Tone of Voice: The tone can be sarcastic, humorous, angry, sad, etc. This conveys the character's emotional state and attitude towards the situation and other characters. This is often indicated through descriptive words like "he snarled," "she whispered," or "he bellowed."
* Emphasis and Pauses: The way a character emphasizes certain words or uses pauses can dramatically alter the meaning of their speech. This shows what the character considers important and what they are trying to communicate, even subconsciously.
3. Content of Speech:
* Topics of Conversation: What a character chooses to talk about reveals their interests, values, and priorities.
* Figurative Language: Use of metaphors, similes, idioms, and other figures of speech can indicate creativity, intelligence, and emotional depth. It can also reveal their cultural background.
* Repetition: Repeating certain words or phrases can highlight a character's obsessions, anxieties, or key personality traits.
* Interruptions and Overshadowing: A character who frequently interrupts others reveals a lack of respect or a desire to dominate the conversation. If a character's speech is constantly overshadowed by others, it might indicate their lack of confidence or power.
4. Dialogue with Other Characters:
* Relationship Dynamics: The way characters interact through dialogue reveals their relationships—are they close friends, rivals, lovers, or strangers? The politeness or lack thereof reflects their standing in a social hierarchy or the degree of their emotional connection.
* Conflict and Agreement: Dialogue reveals points of agreement and disagreement, highlighting conflicting goals, beliefs, or values. This reveals character motivations.
In short, a character's speech is not just what they say, but how they say it. By carefully crafting dialogue, authors can reveal crucial aspects of character personality, motivations, and relationships, adding depth and complexity to their stories.