Acknowledgements

Though this is a book about bodies and dialogue, this text conceals everything except itself. There is no pain or anxiety in the font, no record of discomfort in the neat spacing between paragraphs or the numbering of pages. And yet we use our hands to write and type on the keyboard, we sit upright at desks, we rub our temples and squint our eyes, and we generally say no to our bodies when they tell us to rest, sleep, ignore a deadline. What this text also conceals is the fact that it unfolded in many conversations, at lunch, over the phone, Zoom, and email, not just between the two of us, but also several of the authors, as well as many others who encouraged us and opened dialogical spaces for the project along the way. For these exchanges, we would like to thank our series editor, Edda Weigand, who believed in the project from the get go, as well as Isja Conen and Răzvan Saftoiu at John Benjamins, who guided us through the process of revision and publication.

Mariaelena would like to thank all those who, even without knowing it, allowed her to see this project through. To you, who provided what I needed (be this advice, connection, patience or unwavering support) every step of the way, thank you. In no particular order: Leanna Smithberger, Theresa Castor, Sarah Green, François Cooren, Lorraine Monteagut, Charles Vanover, Ariadne Miranda, Grace Peters, Erick Viera, David Payne, Amaly Santiago, Andrea Fortin. There are two voices present throughout my writing, and these are the voices of Klaus Krippendorff, my mentor, who introduced me to dialogue, and John Shotter, with whom I had the honor of dialoguing over the years. I hope that this book allows your voices to speak through me. Most especially, Mariaelena thanks Jessica Hughes, without whom there would be no book, but also none of the wonderful phone calls, text messages, zoom meetings, conference panels, YouTube cat videos, flowers (!!) and gifts, and life sustaining friendship.

Jessica would like to thank Mariaelena Bartesaghi for being an inspiration and a mentor even before they knew each other, for launching this book project, and for being a brilliant light in the world and a gift in her life. She also extends gratitude to her teachers Karen Tracy, Bob Craig, Leah Sprain, and David Boromisza-Habashi who planted seeds that flowered here years later, and her present colleagues who supported her in theorizing, writing, and persevering–Greg Seigworth, James Machado, A. Nicole Pfannenstiel, Michele Santamaria, Emily Baldys, Blue Guckert, Melissa Mullen Davis, Kaitlin Mondello, Sarah Jackson, Adam Boyer, and Ann Marie Licata.

May you find yourself in these pages as we have found our own bodies and voices.