Dialogic

Dialogic Definition

Dialogic refers to a mode of cultural textual production characterised by the interplay, interaction, or conflict between multiple discourses or systems of meaning. This concept was introduced by the Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin to analyse cultural forms such as novels, films, and plays that are constructed from these interacting layers of meaning, standing in contrast to monologic texts which possess only a single, unified discourse.

Origins and Theory

The term originates from the philosophical framework developed by M. Bakhtin, who used it to explore how meaning is generated through multiple, simultaneous conversations within a text rather than adhering to a singular viewpoint.

Contrast with Monologic Texts

The dialogic approach contrasts sharply with monologic texts, which are defined as those possessing a single, linear meaning or discourse. Bakhtin illustrated this distinction by citing the works of Dostoevsky as examples of dialogical texts and the works of Tolstoy as examples of monological texts.