Studies in Linguistics and Language Education
Volume 2, Numéro 1, Pages 169-183
2026-06-30
Psychological Distance In Direct And Indirect Speech A Cognitive And Emotional Model Of Empathy, Responsibility, And Memory
Authors : Akopova Victoria . Gogiashvili Ia .
Abstract
Language not only transmits propositional content but also structures psychological distance, emotional engagement, and responsibility attribution. This study reconceptualizes direct and indirect speech as cognitive-emotional strategies rather than purely grammatical transformations. Drawing on psycholinguistics, cognitive psychology, narrative theory, and memory research, the article proposes the Speech Distance Processing (SDP) Model. The model explains how reported speech modulates empathic engagement, emotional intensity, and memory reconstruction. Direct speech functions as a mechanism of emotional simulation, reducing psychological distance and enhancing affective resonance. Indirect speech operates as cognitive mediation, increasing distance and supporting emotional regulation and responsibility modulation. The study formulates experimentally testable hypotheses and proposes a mixed factorial design to evaluate emotional intensity, empathy, responsibility attribution, and memory vividness. The findings aim to contribute an interdisciplinary framework linking grammatical form to cognitive and affective processing.
Keywords
Direct speech, Indirect speech, Psychological distance, Empathy, Memory reconstruction
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