The Dialogical Alternative

Book excerpt: The Dialogical Alternative is an interdisciplinary collection of articles presenting and discussing a dialogical approach to language and mind. This approach is characterized by an emphasis on social interaction and dialogue, with examples taken from such fields as political speech, doctor/patient conversation, and interaction with children. The volume also suggests how such a framework may be widely applicable in a variety of thematic areas. The book represents an important alternative to mainstream monologically based models within linguistics, psycholinguistics, cognitive psychology, and cognitive science. It will be read with interest by a broad range of scholars and students from the humanities and social sciences concerned with the study of communication, language, and the mind.