dialogism

Dialogism is a theory of language and meaning that emphasizes the social nature of discourse. It holds that every utterance arises in dialogue with prior voices and invites responses, so meaning emerges from interaction rather than from a single, isolated speaker. In contrast to monologic accounts that grant language a single authority, dialogism treats discourse as the site of competing perspectives and interwoven intentions.

The concept is most associated with the Russian theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, often in dialogue with Matvei Vološinov, and centers on how language is inherently social. Bakhtin’s idea of polyphony describes novels in which multiple independent consciousnesses express their own voices rather than a single authorial voice. Heteroglossia refers to the presence of diverse social languages, perspectives, and ideologies within a single text, producing dialogic tension and negotiation among voices.

Beyond literary criticism, dialogism has influenced linguistics, philosophy, anthropology, and cultural studies. It has been used to analyze how speakers position themselves within social hierarchies, negotiate meaning across communities, and reveal how power and ideology circulate through discourse. Dialogism also informs notions of the dialogic imagination and answerability, emphasizing responsibility to others in the act of speaking and listening.

Critics note challenges in measuring or testing dialogic claims and warn against overextending the framework beyond its analytical aims. Nevertheless, dialogism remains a foundational approach for understanding how meaning is produced through interaction among multiple voices within language and culture.