Difference between revisions of "Enunciation"

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{{Top}}énonciation{{Bottom}}
  
==The Statement and the Enunciation==
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=====Translator's Note=====
In [[linguistics]], one important distinction is that between the [[enunciation]] (''enonciation'') and the [[statement]] (''enonce'').
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The [[distinction]] between "''énoncé''" and "''énonciation''" is a common one in contemporary [[French]] [[thinking]].
  
===The Statement===
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"''Énoncé''", which is translated as "[[statement]]", refers to the actual [[words]] uttered, "''énonciation''" to the act of uttering [[them]].
The [[statement]] (''enonce'') refers to the actual [[words]] uttered.
 
  
The [[statement]] is analysed in terms of abstract grammar, independent of the specific circumstances of occurrence.
 
  
===The Enunciation===
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=====Enunciation and Statement=====
The [[enunciation]] (''enonciation'') refers to the act of uttering them.
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In [[linguistics|linguistic theory]] in [[Europe]], one important distinction is that between the [[enunciation]] and the [[statement]].
The [[enunciation]] is analyzed as an individual act performed by a particular speaker at a specific time/place, and in a specific situation.
 
  
==The Subject==
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The [[statement]] refers to the actual words uttered; the [[enunciation]] refers to the act of uttering them.
[[Lacan]] designates the [[enunciation]] as [[unconscious]], and 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 a [[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]].<ref>E, 298</ref>
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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.
  
The [[subject]] is thus [[split]] between these two levels, divided in the very act of articulating the "I" that presents the [[illusion]] of [[unity]].<ref>Sll, 139</ref>
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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]].
  
==Examples==
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=====Jacques Lacan=====
===Speech Act===
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=====Early Work=====
Lacan focuses his attention on the dimension of the [[enunciation]], the [[act]] of [[speaking]] in itself, irrespective of the content of the utterance.
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Long before [[Lacan]] uses these terms, he is aleady making a similar distinction.
  
In 1936, [[Lacan]] states that the [[act]] of speaking contains a meaning in itself, even if the actual words spoken are "meaningless."<ref>{{Ec}} p.83</ref>
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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>
  
[[Speech]], prior to any function it may have in "conveying a message," is an appeal to the [[other]].
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Prior to any function it may have in "conveying a [[message]]," [[speech]] is an appeal to the [[other]].
  
===Psychosis===
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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]].
In 1946, Lacan uses the term 'enunciation' to describe strange characteristics of psychotic language, with its "duplicity of the enunciation."<ref>{{Ec}} p.167</ref>
 
  
===Subject of the Unconscious===
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=====Psychotic Language=====
In the 1950s, the term is used to locate the [[subject of the unconscious]].  
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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>
  
===Graph of Desire===
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=====Subject of the Unconscious=====
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]]."<ref>{{E}} p.316</ref>
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Later, in the 1950s, the term is used to locate the [[subject]] of the [[unconscious]].
 +
 
 +
=====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>
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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]].
 +
 
 +
=====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>
 +
 
 +
=====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>
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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}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Subject]]
 
[[Category:Symbolic]]
 
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[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:Terms]]
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[[Category:OK]]
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__NOTOC__

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