Chapter 4: Dialogical Perspectives

The fourth chapter in Johannesen's book talks about the different dialogical perspectives. Despite there being various approaches to dialogue, such as a monologue, persuasive dialogue, interpersonal dialogue and so on, there are a couple interesting aspects of dialogue that are important for communicators to keep in mind.

One positive aspect of dialogue is that it tends to carry the text or conversation between two or more people. In written form, dialogue can help the guide the reader in a different way than blocks of text. For example, a conversation between two people may be easier to read than a paragraph or two or straight words. Dialogue gives the reader breaks in the text. It can also help the reader engage and relate to the speakers.

On page 60, Johannesen comments that dialogue is unplanned. I like the idea, although I disagree. Dialogue can be planned. How many of us have practiced what we might say to someone on the first date? During times of conflicts? Or for a job interview?

Dialogue can be planned, although sometimes it is more fun not to.

Improv for example is a form of dialogue that is unplanned (not the improv stages, where the jokes are pre-rehearsed).

We depend on dialogue. We depend on the social interactions between people. Could you go through life without talking to someone else?

What if we were mimes?

(http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Business/pages-3/Mimes-silently-suffering-through-recession-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html)

I did a fundraiser in high school called a "Mime-a-thon" for Theater where we were unable to speak for an entire day. We got sponsors and they paid for us not to talk.

It about killed me! I love talking in general, so not being able to talk, and have people depending on that was so difficult for me.

How long do you think you could go without dialoguing? Could you last a whole day without saying a word?