Re-thinking monologicality: Multi-voiced, mono-perspectival classroom discourses

• Main Authors: Tee, Meng Yew, Samuel, Moses, Tan, Shin Yen, Sathasivam, Renuka V.
• Format: Article
• Published: Springer Nature 2023
• Subjects: L Education (General); LB Theory and practice of education; LB2361 Curriculum
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/39585/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

The purpose of this study is to conceptually explore and investigate the attributes of varying monologic discourses in the classroom, in order to develop a more nuanced understanding of monologicality. Data for this study comprised transcripts of lessons conducted by a teacher from a larger national study on Year 7 classroom practices. Constant comparative analysis of these lessons revealed a continuum of monologicality involving different variants of monologic discourses that arose from the decoupling of voice and perspective. Along this continuum, there are varying configurations of voice and perspective: ranging from mono-voiced, mono-perspectival discourse to multi-voiced, mono-perspectival discourse. This can potentially provide a bridge to the dialogic side of the continuum, where multi-voiced, multi-perspectival discourse is represented. This conceptual framework provides a basis to examine teaching and classroom discourse along this continuum. Further interrogation using this framework can inform teaching practice, future classroom discourse research, as well as teacher education curriculum.