dialogism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “dialogism” mean?
A passage of discourse in which two or more voices speak or interact, or the quality of being dialogic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A passage of discourse in which two or more voices speak or interact, or the quality of being dialogic.
1. In rhetoric and literature: a section of dialogue; the representation of multiple points of view within a text. 2. In philosophy and literary theory (particularly Bakhtinian theory): the quality of a text or utterance that acknowledges and engages with other, potentially opposing, voices, ideas, or social languages.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Both varieties use the same spelling ('dialogism'), unlike 'dialogue/dialog'.
Connotations
Identically academic in both regions.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “dialogism” in a Sentence
The [Noun] is characterised by dialogism.A [Adjective] dialogism emerges in the text.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dialogism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The dialogic nature of the novel is striking.
- His approach is fundamentally dialogical.
American English
- The dialogic nature of the novel is striking.
- Her approach is fundamentally dialogical.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, philosophy, linguistics, and cultural studies to analyse texts and discourse.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in narrative theory and discourse analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dialogism”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dialogism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dialogism”
- Using it to mean simply 'a dialogue' or 'conversation'.
- Confusing it with 'dialectic'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While related, 'dialogue' refers to a conversation between two or more people. 'Dialogism' is a theoretical concept describing the presence of multiple, often conflicting, perspectives or voices *within* a single text or utterance.
The Russian philosopher and literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin (1895-1975), who developed the concept in his analyses of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novels and in his broader theory of language.
Yes. Scholars apply the concept to film, journalism, political discourse, and social media to analyse how multiple viewpoints are represented or interact within a single piece of communication.
Monologism. This refers to discourse that asserts a single, authoritative voice or ideology and suppresses or ignores other potential viewpoints.
A passage of discourse in which two or more voices speak or interact, or the quality of being dialogic.
Dialogism is usually academic, technical in register.
Dialogism: in British English it is pronounced /daɪˈæləˌdʒɪzəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /daɪˈæləˌdʒɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DIALOGue' + 'ISM' (a theory or practice). It's the 'ism' or theory related to dialogue and multiple voices.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEXT AS CONVERSATION, IDEAS AS VOICES IN A ROOM.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'dialogism' most commonly used?