Difference between revisions of "Enunciation"

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enunciation (Ènonciation)                    In linguistic theory in Europe, one impor-
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{{Top}}énonciation{{Bottom}}
  
  tant distinction is that between the enunciation and the statement (Fr. ÈnoncÈ).
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=====Translator's Note=====
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The [[distinction]] between "''énoncé''" and "''énonciation''" is a common one in contemporary [[French]] [[thinking]].
  
The distinction concerns two ways of regarding linguistic production. When
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"''Énoncé''", which is translated as "[[statement]]", refers to the actual [[words]] uttered, "''énonciation''" to the act of uttering [[them]].
  
linguistic production is analysed in terms of abstract grammatical units (such
 
  
  as sentences), independent of the specific circumstances of occurrence, it is
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=====Enunciation and Statement=====
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In [[linguistics|linguistic theory]] in [[Europe]], one important distinction is that between the [[enunciation]] and the [[statement]].
  
referred to as a statement. On the other hand, when linguistic production is
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The [[statement]] refers to the actual words uttered; the [[enunciation]] refers to the act of uttering them.
  
analysed as an individual act performed by a particular speaker at a specific
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=====Statement=====
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A [[statement]] is [[speech]] analysed in [[terms]] of its abstract [[grammatical]] units, independent of the specific circumstances of occurrence.
  
time/place, and in       a specific situation, it is referred to        as  an enunciation
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=====Enunciation=====
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An [[enunciation]] is [[speech]] [[analyzed]] as an [[individual]] act performed by a [[particular]] [[speaker]] at a specific [[time]] / [[place]], and in a specific [[situation]].
  
(Ducrot and Todorov, 1972: 405-10).
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=====Jacques Lacan=====
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=====Early Work=====
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Long before [[Lacan]] uses these terms, he is aleady making a similar distinction.
  
      Long before Lacan      uses these terms, he is already making            a similar
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In 1936, for example, he stresses that the act of [[speech|speaking]] contains a [[meaning]] in itself, even if the words spoken are "[[signification|meaningless]]."<ref>{{Ec}} p.83</ref>
  
distinction. In 1936, for example, he stresses that the act of speaking contains
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Prior to any function it may have in "conveying a [[message]]," [[speech]] is an appeal to the [[other]].
  
  a meaning in itself, even if the words spoken are 'meaningless' (Ec, 83). Prior
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This attention to the act of [[speech|speaking]] in itself, irrespective of the [[content]] of the utterance, anticipates [[Lacan]]'s attention to the [[dimension]] of the [[enunciation]].
  
  to any function it may have in 'conveying a message', speech is an appeal to
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=====Psychotic Language=====
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When [[Lacan]] does come to use the term "[[enunciation]]" in 1946, it is first of all to describe strange characteristics of [[psychotic]] [[language]], with its "duplicity of the enunciation."<ref>{{Ec}} p.167</ref>
  
  the other. This attention to the act of speaking in itself, irrespective of the
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=====Subject of the Unconscious=====
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Later, in the 1950s, the term is used to locate the [[subject]] of the [[unconscious]].
  
  content of the utterance, anticipates Lacan's attention to the dimension of the
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=====Graph of Desire=====
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In the [[graph of desire]], the lower [[signifying chain|chain]] is the [[statement]], which is [[speech]] in its [[conscious]] dimension, while the upper [[signifying chain|chain]] is "the unconscious enunciation."<ref>{{E}} p.316</ref>
  
  enunciation.
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=====Unconscious Enunciation=====
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In designating the [[enunciation]] as [[unconscious]], [[Lacan]] affirms that the source of [[speech]] is not the [[ego]], nor [[consciousness]], but the [[unconscious]]; [[language]] comes from the [[Other]], and the [[idea]] that "I" am [[master]] of my [[discourse]] is only an [[delusion|illusion]].
  
      When Lacan does come to use the term 'enunciation' in 1946, it is first of all
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=====Subject of the Statement or Enunciation=====
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The very [[word]] "I" (''Je'') is ambiguous; as [[shifter]], it is both a [[signifier]] acting as [[subject]] of the [[statement]], and an [[index]] which designate, but does not [[signification|signify]], the [[subject]] of the [[enunciation]].<ref>{{E}} p.298</ref>
  
  to describe strange characteristics of psychotic language, with its 'duplicity of
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=====Split Subject=====
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The [[subject]] is thus [[split]] between these two levels, [[division|divided]] in the very act of articulating the ''I'' that presents the [[delusion|illusion]] of [[unity]].<ref>{{S11}} p.139</ref>
  
  the enunciation' (Ec, 167). Later, in the 1950s, the term is used to locate the
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==See Also==
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{{See}}
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* ''[[Cogito]]''
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* [[Consciousness]]
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* [[Discourse]]
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||
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* [[Ego]]
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* [[Graph of desire]]
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* [[Language]]
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||
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* [[Other]]
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* [[Psychosis]]
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* [[Shifter]]
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||
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* [[Signifying chain]]
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* [[Speech]]
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* [[Split]]
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||
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* [[Statement]]
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* [[Subject]]
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* [[Unconscious]]
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{{Also}}
  
subject of the unconscious. In the graph of desire, the lower chain is the
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==References==
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<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
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<references/>
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</div>
  
  statement, which is speech in its conscious dimension, while the upper chain
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[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
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[[Category:Linguistics]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
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[[Category:Language]]
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[[Category:Symbolic]]
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[[Category:Concepts]]
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[[Category:Terms]]
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[[Category:OK]]
  
  is 'the unconscious enunciation' (E, 316). In designating the enunciation as
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__NOTOC__
 
 
unconscious, Lacan affirms that the          source of speech is not the ego,        nor
 
 
 
consciousness, but the unconscious; language comes from the Other, and the
 
 
 
  idea that 'I' am master of my discourse is only an illusion. The very word 'I'
 
 
 
(Je) is ambiguous; aS SHIFTER, it is both a signifier acting as subject of the
 
 
 
  statement, and an index which designates, but does not signify, the subject of
 
 
 
  the enunciation (E, 298). The subject is thus split between these two levels,
 
 
 
  divided in the very act of articulating the I that presents the illusion of unity
 
 
 
(see Sll, 139).
 

Latest revision as of 06:39, 24 May 2019

French: énonciation
Translator's Note

The distinction between "énoncé" and "énonciation" is a common one in contemporary French thinking.

"Énoncé", which is translated as "statement", refers to the actual words uttered, "énonciation" to the act of uttering them.


Enunciation and Statement

In linguistic theory in Europe, one important distinction is that between the enunciation and the statement.

The statement refers to the actual words uttered; the enunciation refers to the act of uttering them.

Statement

A statement is speech analysed in terms of its abstract grammatical units, independent of the specific circumstances of occurrence.

Enunciation

An enunciation is speech analyzed as an individual act performed by a particular speaker at a specific time / place, and in a specific situation.

Jacques Lacan
Early Work

Long before Lacan uses these terms, he is aleady making a similar distinction.

In 1936, for example, he stresses that the act of speaking contains a meaning in itself, even if the words spoken are "meaningless."[1]

Prior to any function it may have in "conveying a message," speech is an appeal to the other.

This attention to the act of speaking in itself, irrespective of the content of the utterance, anticipates Lacan's attention to the dimension of the enunciation.

Psychotic Language

When Lacan does come to use the term "enunciation" in 1946, it is first of all to describe strange characteristics of psychotic language, with its "duplicity of the enunciation."[2]

Subject of the Unconscious

Later, in the 1950s, the term is used to locate the subject of the unconscious.

Graph of Desire

In the graph of desire, the lower chain is the statement, which is speech in its conscious dimension, while the upper chain is "the unconscious enunciation."[3]

Unconscious Enunciation

In designating the enunciation as unconscious, Lacan affirms that the source of speech is not the ego, nor consciousness, but the unconscious; language comes from the Other, and the idea that "I" am master of my discourse is only an illusion.

Subject of the Statement or Enunciation

The very word "I" (Je) is ambiguous; as shifter, it is both a signifier acting as subject of the statement, and an index which designate, but does not signify, the subject of the enunciation.[4]

Split Subject

The subject is thus split between these two levels, divided in the very act of articulating the I that presents the illusion of unity.[5]

See Also

References

  1. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.83
  2. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.167
  3. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.316
  4. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.298
  5. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. p.139