In April 2004, a group of international scholars convened in Chicago, Illinois for a workshop of the International Association for Dialogue Analysis. The selected papers from the workshop which are included in this volume represent a breadth of theoretical and methodological perspectives. Together, the variety of perspectives adds to a deeper understanding of the complex nature of dialogic interaction. The volume is intended for scholars and students in the field, offering a view of dialogue analysis from its more traditional origins to contemporary trends in discourse studies.