Conversation and Narration: Understanding Discourse Types
Understanding Conversation
Conversation: Talking, in a relaxed manner, with several people who share their ideas on one or more topics. Unlike a debate, the views expressed are not opposite but rather complementary and overlapping.
The Art of Conversation and Writing
Conversation: A spontaneous and informal dialogue between various participants to exchange views on daily life. Writing genres include description, narration, dialogue, exposition, and argument.
Description
Description is a form of speech that verbally represents a part of reality.
Theme
Any aspect of reality can be described. When the subject is physical reality, the aim is to show the qualities or properties of an object, a landscape, an animal, or a person. In the case of humans, the description is given different names depending on whether it focuses on physical, moral, or psychological aspects, or a mixture of these. If a distorted view of the individual is offered, it is considered a caricature. When describing abstract realities, such as feelings or moods, the goal is for the receiver to connect with those experiences.
Types of Description
Two main types of description can be distinguished: technical and literary (or subjective).
Narration
Narration is a form of discourse that involves presenting a series of events over time.
Theme
Real-life events, often with some alterations. These changes are plausible, meaning they are credible: the narrated events appear real, even if they are not entirely factual.
Structure
A story has a closed structure. The traditional novel is organized into an introduction, a middle (or climax), and an ending, respecting chronological development. Within this scheme, there may be some variations:
- Narrative in medias res (in the middle of things): The story begins with events that should have been recounted later, awakening the reader’s interest from the start.
- Starting the story at the ending: Common in contemporary novels.
The structure is considered open when the story seems to develop without a predefined plan. In this case, there is a juxtaposition of scenes that sometimes do not maintain a clear relationship with each other.
Characters
Without characters, there can be no action. Three main aspects should be considered:
- Creation: Sometimes, characters represent an idea; in other instances, the author reflects their own way of being and thinking in them.
- Function: Characters can be primary, secondary, or fleeting. The primary characters are the protagonist and the antagonist. Secondary characters lack the importance of the primary ones. Fleeting characters, or extras, appear only in a specific episode.
- Characterization: Defining a character’s personality. The author uses the technique of the portrait: we can learn about their human profile through what other characters say about them, or through their form of expression. A critical distinction exists between flat characters (types) and round characters (individualized). Flat characters are predictable, while round characters exhibit greater complexity.
Space and Time
Space is the setting where the action takes place and the characters develop. It is used to create a sense of verisimilitude (realism). Time refers to when the action occurs. It is important to distinguish between external time (the historical period in which the events take place) and internal time (the duration of these events and their chronological order).
Point of View
The viewing angle or perspective from which the story is told. The author chooses the narrator’s level of knowledge. The choice of point of view leads to different narrative techniques.