Signification
signification (signification) In Lacan's pre-1950 writings, the term
'signification' is used in a general way to connote both meaningfulness and
importance (e.g. Ec, 81). In 1946, for example, Lacan criticises organicist
psychiatry for ignoring 'the significations of madness' (Ec, 167; see Ec, 153-
4). In the period 1953-7 the term retains these vague associations with the
Realm of meaning and language, and is thus located in the Symbolic order (S4,
121).