Monologue

Etymology

The etymology of the prefix ‘Mono-‘ comes from the Greek root ‘Mono’ meaning ‘One’, ‘alone’, or ‘singular’.

The etymology of ‘-Logue’ comes from the Greek ‘Logos’ meaning ‘logic’, ‘the word’, or ‘study’. This suffix ‘-Logue’ has evolved to also mean ‘multiple words’ or ‘language’.

Syntax

Mono- + -logue =
Mono-logue =
Monologue

Semantics

Based on this etymological root, a ‘monologue’ can mean a ‘single study’, ‘a single word’, or ‘a singular type of logic’. However, our English language has evolved to give ‘monologue’ a more finite, specific, and boxed meaning.

In current times, a ‘Monologue’ is the act of speaking one sidedly, or having a single sided conversation. A long singular speech speaking by or to yourself.

Technically, a book or any written format in which you can’t reply, is a monologue. A one sided conversation. This article is sort of a monologue because it is a person online rambling about words meaning things, while you listen and take it. Sure you could reply to me, but that’s getting into technicalities, which is arguing semantics.

Pragmatics

A monologue is used in theater or a play, a narration of sorts, or to educate and indoctrinate. A classroom instructor giving instruction or lectures, could be a monologue. A sales pitch can be a monologue.

A speech given by an orator is a monologue, if there are no interruptions or questions, there is only one speaker. One speaker speaking, is a monologue.

When the speaker speaks but cares not if heard or if anyone is listening, that specific monologue is called a soliloquy. A soliloquy is popular in theatre arts, or in a song or recording. A one sided conversation using artistic mediums and/of expressions to convey emotions and gripping stories.

An inner monologue are called thoughts or thinking. That voice you may or may not have in your head, is something of a monologue.

Related

Dialogue is a conversation between two people. The prefix ‘Dia-‘ comes from Greek ‘Di-‘ meaning ‘two’.

Some people have thoughts resembling multiple characters, personas, or voices, thus some people can have a dialogue in their head.

Critical thinking is having a serious debate of pros and cons, in your head. That is a dialogue. To be able to argue for and against something with yourself, that is true thought and thinking. To critically argue for something, that inner confliction of thoughts, that is thinking.

Critical thinking might sound like this “on one hand we could do this, and on the other we can get that”. A weighing of the pros and cons is a great skill to have.

Technically a Trialogue would be used for conversations between three people or things. ‘Tri-‘ meaning ‘three’. We can go even further to say that a Polylogue can mean ‘many’ or ‘more than one’. However, we simply use dialogue to mean ‘two or more people conversating’.

Epilogue

An Epilogue is the ending words that follow an act, play, or work. The ‘epi-‘ in epilogue means ‘in addition’. So an epilogue is an extra say or closing statement. This might be called an afterword, post-script, or closing remarks.

In any case, I hope this article had something new that you weren’t aware of, and I hope that it helps you quench a certain thirst for knowledge. While writing, I didn’t have much of a direction other than rambling a bit, and jotting down my scrawling’s.

However, I liked the breakdown of sections starting with Etymology to show the root of a word. Syntax, to show how it was structured or came to be. Semantics to give it the meaning, and pragmatic to show the words uses.

I think I might combine Syntax under the Etymology, or place the Etymology after the Syntax. I’m not sure, I’ll have to play with it as I go.

I plan on writing more to help articulate my thoughts and refine my work, I will continue to ebb the digital pen of writing. Hopefully this helps me and my thoughts formulate a better packaged version that I can use to write my book, and further progress my knowledge and communication skills.

Thanks and remember,

Words Mean Things