Dialogue is the conversation or conversation between two or more people, interacting with each other exposing their ideas and feelings on a topic. It is commonly developed orally, but can also occur through other means, such as through writing. Its purpose is also to exchange ideas in a more explicit way. This phenomenon usually occurs between two or more individuals where each one exposes their point of view on a specific topic.
What is dialogue
Table of Contents
Dialogue is the form of communication between two or more people by different means of transmission; so it can be generated written or oral, in which the parties involved will present their point of view on a topic and ideas will be exchanged.
It is understood by a sender and receiver, the first being the one who will send a message and the second the one who receives it, alternating this role between the two participants, calling each exchange “intervention” or “speaking time”.
Usually the dialogue is oral, complemented by kinetic language (gestures, body postures, body movements) and paralinguistic language (intensity in tone of voice, silences). There is also writing, for example, the one used in literature and its different genres; although also thanks to new technologies, written dialogue is generated by the new media.
Another meaning of the word under study is the discussion that occurs on a matter or an argument with the purpose and desire to reach an absolute agreement or a certain solution. Its etymology comes from the Latin "dialogus", which in turn comes from the Greek "dialogos", whose meaning is "conversation between two or more", and its derivation comes from "dialegesphai" which means "to discuss" or "to converse".
According to the literature
In the literary field it is used to describe a literary work, either in prose or verse, and a talk or debate is formed where different controversies arise between its characters. It is very popular in the literary genre, since dialogue has been present in it since ancient times, with ancient records bequeathed to the world by the ancient Sumerians.
The dialogue is itself considered as a literary genre, whose origin comes from ancient Greece, with Plato's Dialogues, following ancient Rome and other cultures in history. In literature there are three types of dialogue, which are the Platonic (whose objective is to find the truth), the Ciceronian (it is directed towards the political and rhetorical) and the Lucianesque (humorous and satirical).
According to the RAE
According to the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, it is a talk or conversation held between two or more people, who alternately exchange ideas or points of view.
It also refers to the genre or literary work made in prose or verse, in which a conversation or discussion between two or more interlocutors is simulated. In a third sense, the RAE distinguishes this concept as a discussion or search for an agreement by the participants.
Dialog types
According to the context, there are several types of dialogue, among which can be distinguished:
Spontaneous and organized dialogue
It is a conversation between friends, family, colleagues or acquaintances, on any subject and can be generated in any situation, and can be short dialogues or longer conversations. Colloquial language predominates, in the case of a natural conversation without preparation, where local expressions and the use of body gestures are evident. In this case, the synonymous dialogue is the conversation, and in it interruptions, changes of subject and unfinished sentences predominate.
On the other hand, formal or organized dialogue is characterized by having a structure in which its interlocutors must be guided by planning, and each argument is based on credible and verifiable bases. The existence of a close link between the participants is not necessary; Furthermore, the subject on which the dialogue is to be discussed is known in advance; the shares are ordered; there is a special treatment in the exposition of arguments; the language used is precise, elaborate and with courtesy rules; and it seeks to reach a conclusion or solution. Formal dialogues are interviews and debates.
Theatrical dialogue
It is the expression by which the characters in a work express their emotions and everything that happens without the need for a narrator. The words that the actors must express on the tables are previously contained in writing in a dialogue script, which they had to memorize.
Said script must indicate the names of the characters in capital letters, their dialogue and some action that must be carried out when saying their lines. It has also been used for other texts of a narrative nature, although the interlocutor's initials are used instead of his full name, for example, in interviews.
There are two types of speeches:
1. Dramatic: these are the words that the characters will say in the form of:
- Monologue (talks to himself to express his thoughts aloud)
- Separately (comment directed to the public and, even if other characters are on stage, they will not hear said comment).
- Dialogue (interaction between two or more characters).
- Choirs (musical resource).
2. The dimension: it is the action carried out while saying your dialogue. In the Mexican pastoral, this form of dialogue is also used.
Literary dialogue
In this type, the narrator expresses through dialogue, part of the story he is telling, recreating a part of the story in which the direct intervention of the characters is necessary, either through a formal or colloquial dialogue. It is a representation of the real speech of the characters, in which linguistic conventions intervene in the spoken action.
In literature, before the east, there will be a small prelude to it, placing the reader in context. Then, it must be closed, so the author resorts to some resource to conclude it. In the dialogue in English or Anglo-Saxon literature, the dialogues will each go in a separate paragraph, with italics and between angle marks.
Dialogue in the stories
In the story, the narrator describes the actions of the characters, but is also complemented by the dialogues that they carry out, either "out loud" or thoughts. This can be direct, indirect and summary.
1. Direct dialogue: it consists of the insertion of the dialogues of the characters as they happen within the story, this being the moment in which the narrator stops interacting directly with the reader and the interlocutors are the ones who do. It is cited with quotation marks and dashes, preceded or followed by a verb "dicendi" (used to refer to the speech of the characters, for example "whispered", "mumbled", "said"), although it can be dispensed with when it is clear who the words come from.
They give more drama to the story, naturalness and expressiveness. This type is typical of informal conversation, in which the character's own way of speaking can be emulated. It is not exactly the literal reproduction of what the character says; it is more accurate to say that it is the reconstruction of the dialogue, trying to get as close as possible to the discourse.
2. Indirect dialogue: It presents a style that is characterized by integrating into the story something that the character says, from the point of view of the narrator, without reproducing his exact words, expressing them in the third person. In this case, in addition to the verb “dicendi”, the verb “que” is used; for example, “Laura said that…”.
In this type of dialogue, the narrator comments on the attitudes and tone in which the character expresses what he wants to say; for example, if you expressed something in a sarcastic, angry, happy, or doubtful way, omitting punctuation marks such as question marks or exclamation marks. In addition, the narrator will only reproduce part of the story that he considers relevant and that contributes something to the story.
3. Summary dialogue: this is one in which a summary of what the characters are talking about is made, without taking into account the literal words they use. This resource is used to quickly advance to another scene with greater impact or importance.
Interfaith dialogue
This type is understood to be the cooperative exchange between members of different spiritual currents, either on behalf of an institution whom they represent (such as a pastoral dialogue) or in individual representation. Interreligious dialogue is not intended to change people's ideas about their religions or beliefs, but to find common ground between religions, focusing on communities and, through the emphasis on harmony and peace, trying to find solutions to many of the common problems of society.
However, there is another meaning for interreligious dialogue that establishes that it is not only limited to the colloquy of one religion with another, but of a religion with some non-religious humanistic tradition. Therefore, it can be said that it seeks the coexistence of human beings in other areas, as a powerful means to achieve peace and reconciliation and is not limited to conversations but to actions in social, political and economic spheres in favor of the most deprived.
Self-talk
It is important to note that communication does not refer only to the interaction that two people can sustain, but words are also part of our own dialogue. Therefore, this type of dialogue is internal, in which a person talks to himself, being the key to control the thinking and actions of a person, which follow this kind of mental speech.
From an early age, the man externalizes his reflections and actions through oral language, and as he matures, he manages to acquire the ability to internalize that voice and abstract himself, generating verbal thought, conversation with himself.
Its importance lies in self-criticism, self-discussion and self-analysis, where the person is able to reflect their reality, reflect on what surrounds them and confront themselves with different points of view on the same topic, for example, a doubt emotional in which she is often subjected.
Importance of dialogue
It is the form of communication par excellence, through which different points of view, emotions, ideas, thoughts can be exposed. Although it is not the only form of communication that exists, it is the most complex and evolved that human beings have.
Through it, you can establish relationships of respect and tolerance between people of different beliefs, ideas, values, nationalities, among other aspects, with dialogue being the action of expressing thoughts and reflections, and in turn, listening to those of your interlocutor, hence the value of dialogue. According to the message transmitted in it, agreements or disputes can be reached.
Examples of dialogues
Next, three examples of dialogues will be placed.
1. Literary
- We are the dead, ”Winston said.
- We haven't died yet, ”Julia replied prosaically.
- Physically, not yet. But it is a matter of six months, a year or maybe five. I fear death. You are young and for that reason perhaps you fear death more than I do. Naturally, we will do our best to avoid it as much as possible. But the difference is negligible. As long as human beings remain human, death and life are the same.
Excerpt from the book "1984" by George Orwell.
2. Spontaneous
- Francisco: Good afternoon, Mrs. Lupe. How am I doing today?
- Lupe: What can I tell you, mijo, this cold is killing me, I need a drink.
- Francisco: Take this herbal remedy, it will suit you better.
- Lupe: Thank you, mijo, God will pay you.
3. Literary for television
- Chilindrina: You rude old woman!
- Quico: Did you hear that, mommy? She told you old and rude! (Doña Florinda makes a gesture of disinterest) But you are not rude!
- Doña Florinda: Treasure!
- Chilindrina: Yes, she is rude! Because he said donkey to my dad.
- Chavo: Well, don't pay any attention to him because your dad is no donkey.
- Don Ramón: Thank you, Chavo.
- Chavo: What's more, it doesn't even look a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot like donkeys… No more in the snout…
