Dialogue Writing

What is a dialogue?

A dialogue is a written conversation involving two or more characters.

A number of principles to be held in a dialogue:

1) Two people that are present for each other, real presence.

2) Each one is complete and unique.

3) Each one is open, autonomous and aspires to freedom.

4) Openness and willingness to one another.

5) Both have a joint targeting.

Characteristic features of dialogues

• Short exchanges

• Incomplete utterances

• Use of contractions

• Questions in statement forms

• Mix of tenses

• Background information

Ways in which dialogues can sound natural

• Using short exchanges

• Providing minimum information in each turn

• Using appropriate language

• Asking questions in a natural way

• Responding naturally to questions

• Using names of the speakers

• Concluding the dialogue logically

Eg of an Anecdote and the Dialogue

A woman returned from work and found her dog, a large Doberman, lying on the floor gasping for air. She was worried. So, she immediately carried the pet into her car and drove him to a veterinarian.

The vet examined the dog but could not find any reason for his breathing difficulties. So, he said that he’d have to perform a tracheotomy and insert tubes down the animal’s throat so that he could breathe. He explained to the woman that it wasn’t something she would want to watch. So, he asked her to go home and leave the Doberman at his clinic overnight.

The woman returned home. Just as she entered home, she heard her phone ringing. She rushed in and answered it. It was the vet. “Get out of the house immediately! Go to the neighbour’s and call the police!” he shouted.

She immediately ran out of the house and called the police. The police came in a few minutes, searched the house and found an unconscious intruder, without fingers, lying in a closet. Apparently the dog had bitten off his fingers and they had got lodged in his throat. That was why the dog was choking.

Dialogue:

(A woman enters a vet clinic holding her dog)

• Woman: Hi…mm… I’m Diana…Doc, my dog needs immediate attention.

• Vet: What’s the matter?

• Woman: I really don’t know. I…mm.. I found him gasping for breath…..

• Vet: When did you notice this?

• Woman: When I returned from work…mm…mm. Can I put him on the table there? He’s indeed very heavy.

• Vet: Please do

• Woman: I get back from work at 4.30 pm. I open the door and I see him lying on the floor of the living room. He is gasping for breath.

• Vet: Let me examine him.

(after examination)

• Vet: Well, I can’t find any particular reason for his choking.

• Woman: He’s all right?

• Vet: Mm… I don’t think so, though. I’ll have to do a tracheotomy to see what’s wrong…

• Woman: Please do whatever is necessary but please be quick. I can’t see… (in tears)

• Vet: Don’t you worry. I’ll have to insert tubes down his  throat so that he can breathe. I’m sure this isn’t anything that you’d want to watch. If I could suggest,…..

• Woman: Maybe, I’ll wait outside?

• Vet: No, I was going to suggest that you leave him here and go home. He’ll be safe here.

• Woman: All right. I hope he’ll…. Can you call me as soon as you are done with him?

• Vet: Sure.

(The woman goes home. As she enters her home, she hears her phone ringing. She answers the phone)

• Woman: Hello!

• Vet: Ms. Diana?

• Woman: Yes.

• Vet: Get out of house immediately and call the police!

• Woman: What’s the matter, doc?

• Vet: Just get out of the house immediately. Then call the police.

Eg. Imagine that you have the opportunity to interview a sports person who has received the Arjuna Award. Prepare 10 question to interview her/him. Make an appropriate introduction and conclusion.

Good Morning, Viewers. Today we have sportive, dynamic personality, Mr. Abhinav Bindra, who won India's Olympic gold medal in the shooting event in 2008.

Interviewer: Abhinav, it is a privilege for us to be able to interview you.

Interviewer: In a country where you did not have any example of an individual winning the Olympic gold medal in shooting, what inspired you to pursue an Olympic medal in a rather unconventional sport?

Interviewer: How and when did you take up shooting, and what made you such a perfectionist?

Interviewer : How do you plan to use your popularity to inspire the youth to excel in different sports?

interviewer : Would you say Athens 2004 was the low point in your life?

interviewer : Sports, in India, is not a career option for most people. Very few dare to take specialized sports training leaving behind traditional studies. If given all the powers what changes would you bring to the sports governance in India?

interviewer : In what ways did your life change in India after winning the Olympic gold?

Interviewer: Please tell us about the role of your parents in your success.

Interviewer: Do you have any heroes and role models that you look up to, outside your family and outside your sport?

Interviewer: Finally, what would you say to Indian athletes, particularly shooters, looking up to you?

Task: Assume that you are Mr. Abhinav Bindra and and write your responses to the interviewer’s  questions.