INTRODUCTION
In our previous articles on elements of drama, we said that what makes drama unique is the fact that the story is presented in dialogue from the beginning to the end. What then is dialogue? In simple terms, dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. It is used mostly in fiction especially, plays. In this unit, we will discuss it as another important element of drama.
What is dialogue?
Dialogue is a discussion between two or more people. In literary works, it refers to a composition in a conversational form. In the novel it is incorporated in the story, that is, as the story progresses, the novelist gives two or more characters the opportunity to discuss or comment on certain issues and the story continues in prose form. However, in drama, the entire story is presented in dialogue. This explains why some people find it difficult to read plays because you see the name of a character, then, what the character says, the name of another character and the response as seen below: In addition to that, you must read the stage direction for you to understand the story, the motivation of the characters, the place where the action is taking place and other information provided about the environment and the personality of the characters. Many people therefore find the reading of a play cumbersome and prefer to read a novel where they read and enjoy the story without interruption. Can you identify the names of the characters, the stage direction?
ANANSE: [When the song is over] While life is whipping you, rain also pours down to whip you some more. Whatever it was that man did wrong at the beginning of things must have been really awful for all of us to have to suffer so. [He calls:] Anansewa ! Where is that typewriter of yours? Bring it here. [Pause] I’ve been thinking, thinking, and thinking, until my head is earth quaking. Won’t somebody who thinks he has discovered the simple solution for living this life kindly step forward and help out the rest of us? [To the audience:] Oh the world is hard, Is hard, The world is really hard. [Taking off his raincoat and calling again] Anansewa ! Where is that typewriter I bought for you at a price that nearly drove me to sell myself? Bring it here. [He closes up the umbrella.] [Enter ANANSEWA dressed for going out, and receives the typewriter from PROPERTY MAN.]
ANANSEWA: Oh father, is it raining?
ANANSE: Yes, it’s raining. It’s rain combining with life to beat your father down. [He leans the umbrella against the wall.]
ANANSEWA: Oh. I didn’t even know you were not in the house.
The short dialogue above is taken from The Marriage of Anansewa and it is an exchange between Ananse and his daughter. Their names are written in bold letters to indicate that what follows is what the person says. This is unlike what we have in the novel where what is said by a character is marked off with inverted commas and the novelist will indicate who said it.
Dialogue could be described as a verbal interchange of thoughts or ideas. The Oxford Dictionary explains that dialogue involves two or more people and could be in form of expression, conversation, talk, chat, tête-à-tête, chit chat, debate, argument, exchange of views, discussion, conference, converse, interlocution, confabulation, gossip, parley, palaver, spoken part, script, and lines. The forms of dialogue listed above can be found in drama depending on the perspective of the play; the particular section of the play; the dramatic mode or the message the playwright wants to convey. You may ask how debate or conference could form part of dialogue in a play. It is possible for the playwright to create a scene on a conference and as the conference is going on, there could be question and answer session which involves dialogue. This applies to other forms of dialogue listed above.
According to Adewoye(1993), quoted in Iwuchukwu(2001),dialogue in drama is expected to embody these literary and stylistic values:
- It advances the action in a definite way because it is not used for mere ornamentation or decoration.
- It is consistent with the character of the speakers, their social positions and special interests. It varies in tone and expression according to nationalities.
- It gives the impression of naturalness without being actual, verbatim record of what may have been said, since fiction is concerned with“the semblance of reality,” not reality itself.
- It presents interplay of ideas and personalities among the peopleconversing; it sets forth a conversational give and take andnot simply a series of remarks of alternating speakers.
Dialogue is a highly specialized form of conversation that is designed to suit various contexts and modes of drama. It is not exactly like everyday conversation where we adjust style to suit the occasion and the personalities we are discussing with. In doing this, unconsciously, we use particular facial expressions, bodily gestures, vocal inflections. Sometimes, we pause or rephrase our feelings and ideas, as we adjust to circumstances to suit our thoughts and the thoughts of those we are talking to. It is not possible to reproduce it like that in drama. The playwright imagines these feelings and ideas, put them together in a more condensed form. This is because of the limitations of dramatic performance.
The dialogue is designed in a way that it must be heard and understood by the audience. As a result, the continuity of the dialogue should be marked out clearly at every point. Drama is presented only in dialogue so that it should be designed in such a way that through it, the reader or audience must be able to infer the nature of each character, the public and private relationship among the several characters, the past as well as the present circumstances of the various characters.
From the discussion so far, you will agree with Scholes and Klaus (1971) that dialogue is an extraordinary significant form of conversation because it is through it that every play implies the total make-up of its imaginative world. It is also important that dialogue imply the whole range of expressions, gestures, inflections, movements and sometimes information on the environment and the total atmosphere of the play. Read the example below, an excerpt from The Lion and the Jewel and see what you can infer from it.
LAKUNLE: Sidi, my love will open your mind Like the chaste leaf in the morning, when The sun touches it.
SIDI: If you stat that I will run away I had enough of that nonsense yesterday.
LAKUNLE: Nonsense? Nonesense? Do you hear that? Does anybody listen? Can the stones Bear to listen to this? Do you call it Nonesense that I poured the waters of a=my soul To wash your feet?
SIDI: You did what?
LAKUNLE: Wasted! Wasted! Sidi, my heart Bursts into flowers with may love. But you and the dead of this village Trample it with the feet of ignorance.
SIDI: [shakes her head in bafflement] If the snail finds splinters in his shell He changes house. Why do you stay?
LAKUNLE: Faith. Because I have faith. Oh Sidi, vow to me your own undying love And I will scorn the jibes of these bush minds Who know no better. Swear, Sidi, Swear you will be my wife and I will stand against earth, heaven, and nine Hells…
SIDI: Now there you go again. One little thing And you must chirrup like a cockatoo. You talk and talk and deafen me With wit words which always sound the same And make no meaning. I’ve told you and I say it again I shall marry you today, next week Or any day you name But my bride-price must first be paid. Aha, now you turn away. But I tell you, Lakunle I must have The full bride-price. Will you make me A laughing-stock? Well, do as you please. But Sidi will not make herself A cheap bowl for the village spit.
LAKUNLE: O n my head fall their scorn.
SIDI: They will say I was no virgin That I was forced to sell my shame And marry you without a price.
LAKUNLE: A savage custom, barbaric, outdated, Rejected, denounced, accursed, Excommunicated, archaic, degrading, Humiliating, unspeakable, redundant.
SIDI: Is the bag empty? Why did you stop?
LAKUNLE: I own a Shorter Companion Dictionary, but I have ordered The Longer One-you wait!
SIDI: Just pay the price. From this dialogue between Lakunle and Sidi, you can see that Lakunle is an educated buffoon who wants to marry a lady in the village without fulfilling the requirements of the people’s customs. He apes the white man and despises the African cultural heritage. Sidi is a decent but uneducated village girl who wants to maintain her dignity.
In summary dialogue is a verbal communication between two or more people and it is very important to the dramatist especially in written plays. The story of drama is presented through the characters as they talk to one another and relate to one another. Characters are revealed through dialogue. Also incidents and events are exposed and explicated through dialogue.
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
What is it to you to a head has come?
The amusing information
I can recommend to visit to you a site on which there is a lot of information on a theme interesting you.
I consider, that you commit an error. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM, we will discuss.
I have removed this idea 🙂
I apologise, but, in my opinion, you are mistaken. Let’s discuss. Write to me in PM, we will communicate.
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here.
I did however expertise some technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the website lots of times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading
instances times will often affect your placement in google and
could damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out for a lot more of your respective
intriguing content. Make sure you update this again soon.
Thank you for another informative website. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such an ideal manner?
I have a challenge that I am simply now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info.
With havin so much content do you ever run into any problems
of plagorism or copyright infringement? My website
has a lot of unique content I’ve either authored myself
or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it
up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any
techniques to help reduce content from being ripped off?
I’d definitely appreciate it.
Marvelous, what a weblog it is! This web site provides valuable data to us, keep
it up.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your
fantastic post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
Excellent post. I certainly love this site. Stick with it!
Tremendous things here. I am very satisfied to look your article.
Thank you a lot and I am having a look forward to
touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from
right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this web
site, as I experienced to reload the site lots of times previous to I could get it to
load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is
OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect
your placement in google and could damage your high
quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot
more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again soon.
Ahaa, its fastidious conversation regarding this piece of writing here at this webpage, I have read all
that, so now me also commenting here.
Quality time spent together builds a reservoir of shared memories.
Howdy would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I must
say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Excellent post but I was wondering if you could write a litte
more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you
could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
Hi it’s me, I am also visiting this web site daily, this website
is actually pleasant and the users are genuinely sharing good
thoughts.
Quality content is the secret to attract the users to pay a
visit the web site, that’s what this website is providing.
What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads.
I hope to give a contribution & aid different customers like
its aided me. Good job.
Balancing alone time and shared activities contributes to a healthy relationship dynamic.
Greate article. Keep writing such kind of information on your blog.
Im really impressed by it.
Hello there, You have performed a great job.
I will definitely digg it and in my view suggest to my friends.
I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this site.
Howdy! This article could not be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept preaching about this. I most certainly will send this article to him.
Fairly certain he’ll have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!
May I simply just say what a comfort to uncover somebody that actually understands what they are talking about online.
You certainly realize how to bring an issue to light
and make it important. More and more people really
need to check this out and understand this side of the story.
I was surprised that you are not more popular since you definitely possess the gift.
Hello colleagues, fastidious piece of writing and pleasant arguments commented
at this place, I am really enjoying by these.
This is my first time visit at here and i am in fact happy to read
all at alone place.
We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website provided us with useful information to
work on. You’ve done a formidable activity and our entire group
will be grateful to you.
I have been browsing online more than three hours as of late,
yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good
content material as you probably did, the web might be much
more helpful than ever before.
When some one searches for his essential thing, so he/she desires to be available that in detail, so that thing is maintained
over here.
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the
layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it
yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had
been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me dinner simply because I found it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending
some time to discuss this matter here on your web page.
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your web site provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
It is the best time to make some plans for the long run and it’s
time to be happy. I’ve learn this post and if I could I wish to counsel you
few attention-grabbing things or suggestions. Maybe
you can write next articles relating to this article.
I desire to learn more things approximately it!
I am curious to find out what blog system you are
working with? I’m having some small security issues
with my latest website and I would like to find something more
secure. Do you have any recommendations?
Hey there! I’ve been following your web site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic work!
Great site you have here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days.
I truly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
LAVITA RICCA INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT*
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
*NO MORE EXCUSES*
1. I don’t have money
2. I can’t talk to people
3. I don’t do stuff like this
4. I’m too Busy
Your excuses may be legit but they won’t improve your Life.
• *Lavita Ricca Investment is Fully Registered with with FGN. with RC NO 1582489( For those Who Think Lavita Ricca is Not Registered)* *Contact Administrator Management Mrs. Elizabeth Tina On *(09036369810)
*Lavita Ricca Investment is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45 minutes you will get back your money double*
?phone=+2349036369810
*Lavita Ricca PACKAGE’S*
*N20,000====N40,000*
*N40,000====N80,000*
*N50,000====N100,000*
*N100,000====N200,000*
*N200,000 ====N400,000*
*N400,000====N800,000*
*======== = = ========*
*I know you are skeptical about this because of the negative experience a lot of issues as regards scamming in the MMM. I assure you 101% that you won’t lose your money this is because I know the risk of this profit oriented business and I know how to avoid them using my trading skills and signals to make only wins and no losses.*
*Are u a worker?*
 *Are u a student looking for your school fees? Are u a woman looking for money to pay your children school fees?*
 *Are u jobless and u need where u can make source of income?*..
 *Lavita Ricca Investment is here for you! With a little amount u can earn and make more more source of income without any problems*
 *Lavita Ricca Investment is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
*Thank you for your time you can click on the link below to get started, please only serious minded people are expected to message the administrator.( 09036369810 )
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM*
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️
*NO MORE EXCUSES*
1. I don’t have money
2. I can’t talk to people
3. I don’t do stuff like this
4. I’m too Busy
Your excuses may be legit but they won’t improve your Life.
• *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is Fully Registered with CAC. WHICH IS COOPERATE AFFAIR COMMISSION( For those Who Think LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT is Not Registered)*
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
CONTACT:- +2349036369810
*LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM PACKAGE’S*
*N20,000====N40,000*
*N30, 000====N60,000*
*N50,000====N100,000*
*N100,000====N200,000*
*N200,000 ====N400,000*
*N400,000====N800,000*
*==============*
*I know you are skeptical about this because of the negative experience a lot of issues as regards scamming in the global world. I assure you 101% that you won’t lose your money this is because I know the risk of this profit oriented business and I know how to avoid them using my trading skills and signals to make only wins and no losses.*
*Are u a worker?*
♊ *Are u a student looking for your school fees? Are u a woman looking for money to pay your children school fees?*
♊ *Are u jobless and u need where u can make source of income?*
♊ *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is here for you! With a little amount u can earn and make more more source of income without any problems*
♊ *LAVITA RICCA INVESTMENT PROGRAM is a platform network that deal with investing of money just within 45mins you will get back your money double*
*Thank you for your time you can click on the link below to get started, please only serious minded People are expected to message the administrator.*
CONTACT NAME Mrs. ELIZABETH TINA
CONTACT:- 09036369810.