This paper examines conversational dialogue. ¹ It is divided into
four parts. The first presents arguments for dialogic analysis, the
second lists some failings, the third applies this critical view to
the notion of a "reply"; the final part is an overview.

Whenever persons talk there are very likely to be questions and
answers. These utterances are realized at different points in "se-
quence time." Notwithstanding the content of their questions,
questioners are oriented to what lies just ahead, and depend on
what is to come; answerers are oriented to what has just been
said, and look backward, not forward. Observe that although a
question anticipates an answer, is designed to receive it, seems
dependent on doing so, an answer seems even more dependent,
making less sense alone than does the utterance that called it
forth. Whatever answers do, they must do this with something
already begun.

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