interlocutori

Interlocutori is the Italian noun referring to the participants in a conversation. The singular, interlocutore, designates a person who takes part in a dialogue, answering, asking questions, or reacting to others' statements. The term is used across everyday language and in scholarly contexts to describe the roles and dynamics of conversation.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin interloqui, literally "to speak between," with the agent suffix -tore. It entered Italian through historical linguistic development and has cognates in other Romance languages.

Usage: In linguistics and discourse analysis, interlocutori are the interlocutors in a dialogue, with analysis focusing on turn-taking, alignment, and stance. In literature, theater, and film, the term helps describe how characters engage in dialogue and how information is exchanged. In social interaction studies, distinguishing between interlocutori can illuminate the structure of conversations, such as who initiates topics or who responds.

Examples: In a two-person interview, the interviewer and the interviewee are interlocutori; in a debate, each side is composed of multiple interlocutori.

See also: dialogo, conversazione, parlante.