Dialogue

Dialogue is the exchange of spoken words between two or more participants. It appears in literature, drama, film, and everyday conversation, and also as a subject of study in linguistics and communication. The word derives from the Greek dia-logos, meaning through speech.

In narrative writing, dialogue reveals character, conveys information, and drives plot. It can employ naturalistic speech patterns, dialect, and subtext, and is often interspersed with narration to control pace. Writers balance dialogue with description to create realism and meaning.

In drama and screenwriting, dialogue is the primary vehicle for action and emotion. Lines are typically labeled by character and punctuated with quotation marks or stage directions. Dialogue tags (he said, she asked) indicate speakers and tone, while action beats can replace tags to show who is performing a gesture.

In linguistics and media studies, dialogue analysis examines turn-taking, adjacency pairs, repairs, overlap, and silence within conversational interaction. The study extends to interviews, broadcasts, and scripted media, highlighting how dialogue reflects social relations, power dynamics, and cultural norms.