Question

WRITING SKILLS (AN INTERVIEW IN DIALOGUE FORMAT)

Goals

In this lesson you will:

briefly review the writing of an interview in dialogue format.

Conduct a fictional interview with a famous Afrikaans singer of your choice and reproduce it in dialogue format.

The dialogue

A dialogue is a version of an informal conversation between two or more people. It can also be the version of an interview conducted with someone.

A dialogue is written in direct speech, but no quotation marks are used.

The speaker's name; followed by a colon, is written on the left side of the page.

Additional information, how something was said, for example (He answers laughing), is written in brackets just after the colon to keep the conversation alive (active).

The tone(s) of the dialogue depends on the nature of the dialogue.

The interview in dialogue format

The version of an interview is written in the same way as a dialogue.

There is always an introductory paragraph that serves as an introduction to the conversation. This tells us in advance what the conversation or interview is about.

Guidelines for writing an interview in dialogue format:

Always write an introductory paragraph that tells more about what the interview is about.

As with a dialogue, an interview is written in direct speech, without quotation marks.

The speakers' names appear on the left side of the page and each speaking turn begins on a new line. You can also leave a line open between each speaking turn.

In an interview, questions are put to the person with whom you are conducting the interview.

The purpose of an interview is to get information.

The questions asked by the interviewer must be relevant to the topic of the interview.

Do not deviate from the topic. That way you will get more information from the person.

The questions at the end of the interview must summarize the conversation and bring the interview to an end.

When you conduct an interview, it is important not to tear down or criticize the person. You are entitled to your own opinion, but the other person does not necessarily have to respond to it. Do thorough research on the singer before asking him/her questions.

Answer 1

Introductory Paragraph: Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Juanita du Plessis, one of the most famous Afrikaans singers in South Africa. She has won numerous awards for her music, including the South African Music Award for Best Selling Artist of the Year in 2010. Today, we'll be talking to her about her career, her latest album, and what inspires her music.

Interviewer: Good morning Juanita, thank you for joining us today. Your latest album, "Kaalvoetkind," has been a huge success. What inspired you to create this album?

Juanita: Good morning, it's great to be here. Well, "Kaalvoetkind" is actually a tribute to my childhood and growing up in Namibia. The album is filled with songs that remind me of my childhood and the simplicity of life back then. I wanted to share that with my fans.

Interviewer: That's very interesting. Your music often touches on themes of love and relationships. Can you tell us a bit about your creative process when it comes to writing songs about these topics?

Juanita: Yes, love and relationships are definitely recurring themes in my music. When I write songs about these topics, I draw inspiration from my own experiences and observations of the world around me. I think it's important for my music to be relatable to my fans, so I try to write about things that many people can identify with.

Interviewer: Your career has spanned over two decades. How do you stay motivated and inspired to keep creating music?

Juanita: Well, I love what I do. Music is my passion and it's what I've always wanted to do. I'm constantly looking for new inspiration, whether it's from my personal experiences or from the people and places around me. I also have a great team of people who support me and encourage me to keep going.

Interviewer: You've achieved so much in your career, what would you say is your greatest accomplishment?

Juanita: That's a difficult question. I think my greatest accomplishment is being able to make music that has touched so many people's lives. I receive messages from fans all the time, telling me how my music has helped them through tough times or how it's brought them joy. Knowing that my music has made a positive impact on people's lives is really special to me.

Interviewer: Finally, what can we expect from Juanita du Plessis in the future? Any upcoming projects or collaborations?

Juanita: Yes, I'm actually working on a new album at the moment. It's still in the early stages, but I'm really excited about it. I'm also hoping to do some collaborations with other artists in the future. I think it's always great to work with new people and learn from each other.

Interviewer: Well, we look forward to hearing your new album and seeing what the future holds for you. Thank you so much for joining us today, Juanita.

Juanita: Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure.