Honestly, most of what I think I know turns out to be wrong. Trying to "figure it out" leads to assumptions/filling in blanks.

My Parts/alters/whatever you want to call them communicate in the same way I do: they write, they take over & talk out loud, they act out. I do have internal dialogue, but I barely trust it to be accurate, because my own mind filters it.

If the question is "do I hear internal dialogue the same way I hear thoughts" the answer is "sort of." It's inside my head, I don't confuse it with audible voices. But, it is pretty inaccurate if I try at all to convey any of it to anyone outside. If I try to share it -- by the time it's out of my mouth, I've already filtered it through me, so it is not totally accurate.

I did provide my therapist with an example of internal conflict vs. conflict between Parts/alts by providing an example of two different shopping trips I went on.

Trip 1 -- internal conflict...
I found something I really liked. I thought "Ooh I really want this. Oh but we're trying to buy a house, so I shouldn't be spending money. But I really like it, and I won't find it again...maybe I should buy i t. Ohh but no saving is more important."

Trip 2 -- conflict between Parts/alts...
I'm in the bread aisle. I start to dissociate: can't feel my body, completely flat affect, can't feel much of anything really... I'm picking up a bread and hear in my head (yes, similarly to thought) "This one looks so good!" -- wham, panic, hits me -- angry 'thought' "NO that has way too many carbs" -- the bread is put back on the shelf -- start to walk away -- overwhelmed again, "no no I want it" -- back to the bread, picking it up again -- wham, panic, "NO stop it no bread NO BREAD" -- back on the shelf it goes, walking away again -- "but if we only have one slice, it's not so bad...please I want it please..." I'm back in front of the g*d*mned bread again, picking it up again -- PANIC -- "No no no no no PUT IT BACK" -- bread is back on the shelf again...

This will literally go on for an hour. Frequently, the dialogue becomes external, so the words come out of "my" mouth as the different parts hijack. Though they, thankfully, typically keep it quiet.

Now, I am there - I have co-consciousness - I will attempt to smooth it over - trying to propose compromises. Again, the dialogue can be in my head but typically slips out of my mouth, to be honest. As does theirs. I always wonder how nuts I must look to other people.... I do not black out and forget. (Typically. I do have a distinct memory of putting a certain shirt back on the shelf only to find it in my closet a week later, so...that happened.) But, anyways, I have a high level of co-consciousness typically meaning that I don't black out and just wake up places.

So, I hope that's somewhat helpful.