Dialogue Speech
Meanings that emerge through dialogue are not the province of any individual rather they are shared between two people to create value and understanding. Goodmorning/afternoon teachers and students, today I am here before you to demonstrate the ways in which
dialogue can be used for a variety
of purposes. Two texts which I believe demonstrate this statement are “Weapons Training” a poem by Bruce Dawe and the drama-comedy “Scrubs” created by Bill Lawrence. To engage in dialogue requires a commitment to speaking and
listening in a more deliberate way then what traditionally
may take place in ordinary conversation or discussion. It can uncover inner connections that exist between people that are otherwise unseen in our lives. Bruce Dawe, a contemporary poet uses dialogue
manipulatively and effectively in several of his poems however
“Weapons Training” is an excellent example of how dialogue may be used to provide meaning and substance to a poem. The poem is created around the dramatic monologue of an army sergeant to his
platoon during the years of the Vietnam War. It concentrates upon the theme of war yet significance is placed upon the structure of the poem and the accompanying imagery which allows for various apparent interpretations. Being in the form of a dramatic monologue, the focus of the poem is based around the sergeant’s use of language which captures the initial speech and attitudes
of the stereotypical military figure. His voice is aggressive and demanding such as the hyperbole “When I say eyes right I want to hear
those eyeballs click” which enforces a strong sense of discipline and authority over his recruits. Dawe deliberately starts the poem with ‘and’ which indicates when the listener enters the scene. From this point onwards, the abundance of punctuation promotes a continuous
speech with only the...
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