A Critique of Bakhtin's Dialogic Theory

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student in Lyrical Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

2 Fatemeh Modarresi, Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

10.22108/liar.2026.147020.2522

Abstract

Mikhail Bakhtin is among the most influential thinkers in the field of literary criticism and the philosophy of language in the twentieth century, who proposed the "logic of dialogue" as the central core of his thought. This theory, by emphasizing polyphony, intertextuality, and the dialogic nature of language, has transformed our understanding of the phenomenon of dialogue and the formation of meaning. The present research, employing a descriptive-analytical method and relying on library sources, aims to critically examine the theoretical foundations of the logic of dialogue and its implications in the field of literary criticism. The findings of the research indicate that although this theory is rich and revolutionary philosophically and aesthetically, it faces fundamental challenges such as ambiguity in the definition of dialogue and neglect of the role of power relations in the realm of discourse. Furthermore, this theory is deficient in explaining the role of the author and the ethical responsibility of the work, and shows obvious methodological limitations when applied to non-novel texts and specific cultural-historical contexts. On the other hand, due to the plurality of truth, dialogue alone cannot convey the entire truth.

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Literary Arts

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 April 2026

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