The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring electronic communications by way of determining the dialogue that takes place in an electronic communication. In one form the present invention provides a dictionary for analysis of an electronic communication comprising a store of expressions wherein the store of expressions is arranged according to: at least one section, each section corresponding to one of a plurality of grammatical functions; at least one subject, each subject corresponding to one of a plurality of categories of expressions for facilitating monitoring of an electronic communication. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for monitoring an electronic communication utilising the above dictionary.