Dialogue has developed from more primitive forms of social communication in the course of evolution. In Mutualities in dialogue, 'dialogue' refers to face-to-face interaction between two or more individuals using a system of signs (both verbal and nonverbal). The contributors, distinguished scholars in disciplines from primatology to social psychology to linguistics and communication studies, all address the question: what is it that we share in the course of a dialogue? They argue that culture, mutualities of language and some interpersonal knowledge are prerequisites for effective communication. Even in instances of noncooperation or of asymmetrical dialogue - such as attempts to persuade, manipulate or blame - some forms of elementary commonalities must be present. Mutualities in dialogue focuses on the interacting dialogical participants as a dyad rather than as two individuals, and is influenced by approaches such as dialogism, phenomenological perspective-setting and perspective-taking, interactionism and exchange theory. An introduction outlines the theoretical underpinnings of the volume and is followed by chapters on mutualities in preverbal and nonverbal communication, establishing and maintaining mutuality, problems of mutuality and understanding, and dialogues with speech-impaired partners.

Dialogue has developed from more primitive forms of communication during evolution. In Mutualities in Dialogue, "dialogue" refers to face-to-face interaction between two or more individuals using a system of signs. It asks the question "What is it that we share in the course of a dialogue?", arguing that mutualities of language, culture and some interpersonal information are prerequisite for effective communication. Even in instances of noncooperation or of asymmetrical dialogue elementary commonalities must be present.