The practice of "chismeando" (gossiping, in Spanish) is examined as it is defined and engaged in by a group of women from the Dominican Republic. It is argued that the stories told in chismeando are repositories of sociocultural knowledge. Women's participation in the practice provides the women with a framework for understanding and displaying this knowledge. Focus of the analysis is on the use of two intonation patterns, the phrase-final fall and the phrase-final rise, and it is shown how through varied uses of these patterns the women display and create their shared social history. The paper argues for locally sensitive interpretations of the meanings of these patterns. It is also proposed that chismeando is more than mere chat among women; it is, at least for this group of women, a site of much sociopolitical activity, their participation in which is significant to the unfolding of their everyday lives. Contains 23 references. (MSE)