Difference between revisions of "Metalanguage"

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{{Top}}métalangage{{Bottom}}
  
In [[linguistics]], a technical or second-order [[language]] used to describe and analyze a natural or first-order [[language]].
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=====Linguistic Definition=====
More generally, any descriptive [[discourse]] such as [[literary criticism]] can be said to function as a [[metalanguage]].
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"[[Metalanguage]]" is the technical [[linguistic]] term for any [[form]] of [[language]] which is used to describe or analyze the properties of [[another]] [[language]].
According to [[Jakobson]], the process of acquiring or learning a [[language]] involves many metalinguistic operations.
 
He also argues that all speakers of a [[language]] also use a [[metalanguage]] without realizing it in order to ensure that they are using the same code as their interlocutors.
 
  
The very possibility of a metalinguistic dimension is denied by many of the thinkers associated with [[poststructuralism]], [[postmodernism]] and [[deconstruction]].
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=====Roman Jakobson=====
[[Lacan]], for example, flatly denies the existence of any [[metalanguage]], basing his claim on [[Heidegger]]'s contention that [[language]] is the 'house of being' and that it is impossible to step outside it.<ref>1960</ref>
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[[Roman Jakobson]] includes the metalingual function in his [[list]] of the functions of [[language]].<ref>[[Roman Jakobson|Jakobson, Roman]]. "Linguistics and poetics," in ''Selected Writings'', vol. II, ''[[Poetry]] of Grammar and Grammar of Poetry'', The [[Hague]]: Mouton, 1981 [1960]., p. 25</ref>
In [[Heidegger]]'s view, any [[metalanguage]] is a [[metaphysics]] and a 'technicalization' that destroys the experience of a [[language]].
 
  
Most of the [[philosophers]] associated with the [[linguistic turn]] take a similar view and argue, like [[Wittgenstein]], that there can be no metalinguistic or extralinguistic dimension betcause "the limits of my language are the limits of my world" or, like [[Derrida]], that "there is nothing outside the text."
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=====Jacques Lacan=====
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=====Early Work=====
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[[Lacan]]'s first reference to [[metalanguage]] comes in 1956, when he echoes [[Jakobson]]'s view on the metalingual function of all [[language]]:
  
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<blockquote>"All [[language]] implies a [[metalanguage]], its already a [[metalanguage]] of its own [[register]]."<ref>{{S3}} p. 226</ref></blockquote>
  
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=====Later Work=====
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A few years later, in 1960, he says precisely the opposite, arguing that "no [[metalanguage]] can be spoken."<ref>{{E}} p.311</ref>
  
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=====No "Outside" of Language=====
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What [[Lacan]] appears to mean by this remark is that, since every attempt to fix the [[signification|meaning]] of [[language]] must be done in [[language]], there can be no escape from [[language]], no "outside".
  
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This is reminiscent of [[Heidegger]]'s views on the [[impossibility]] of exiting "the house of language."
  
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=====Metalanguage Does Not Exist=====
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[[Lacan]] rejects the very possibility of a [[metalanguage|metalinguistic dimension]], denies the [[existence]] of any [[metalanguage]].
  
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[[Lacan]] follows [[Heidegger]]'s view of [[language]] as a "house of [[being]]" of which it is [[impossible]] to step [[outside]].
  
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=====Meaning Beyond Language=====
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This also appears similar to the [[structuralism|structuralist]] theme of ''il n'y a rien hors du texte'' ("there is [[nothing]] outside the [[text]]"), but it is not the same; [[Lacan]] does not deny that there is a beyond of [[language]] (this beyond is the [[real]]), but he does argue that this beyond is not of a kind that could finally anchor [[signification|meaning]].
  
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There is, in other [[words]], no [[transcendental]] [[signified]], no way that [[language]] could "tell the [[truth]] [[about]] truth."<ref>{{Ec}} p. 867-8</ref>
  
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=====No Other of the Other=====
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The same point is also expressed in the phrase:
  
Metalanguage is the technical term in linguistics for any form of language which is used to describe the properties of language.
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<blockquote>"There is no [[Other of the Other]]."<ref>{{E}} p. 311</ref></blockquote>
Roman Jakobson includes the metalingual function in his list of the functions of language.<ref>Jakobson, 1960:25</ref>
 
  
Lacan's first reference to metalanguage comes in 1956, when he echoes Jakobson's view on the metalingual function of all language: "all language implies a metalanguage, its already a metalanguage of its own register."<ref>S3, 226</ref>
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If the [[Other]] is the [[guarantee]] of the [[coherence]] of the [[subject]]'s [[discourse]], then the [[falsity]] of this guarantee is revealed by the fact that the [[guarantor]] himself [[lacks]] such a guarantee.
  
A few years later, in 1960, he says precisely the opposite, arguing that "no metalanguage can be spoken."<ref>E 311</ref>
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=====Transference=====
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In a [[clinical]] context, this means that there is no [[metalanguage]] of the [[transference]], no point outside the [[transference]] from which it could be finally [[interpretation|interpreted]] and "liquidated."
  
What Lacan appears to mean by this remark is that, since every attempt to fix the meaning of language must be done in language, there can be no escape from language, no "outside."
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==See Also==
 
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{{See}}
This is reminiscent of Heidegger's views on the impossibility of exiting "the house of language."
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* [[Discourse]]
 
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* [[Interpretation]]
This also appears similar to the structuralist theme of ''il n'y a rien hors du texte'' ('there is nothing outside the text'), but it is not the same; Lacan does not deny that there is a beyond of language (this beyond is the real), but he does argue that this beyond is not of a kind that could finally anchor meaning.  There is, in other words, no transcendental signified, no way that language could "tell the truth about truth."<ref>Ec 867-8</ref>
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||
 
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* [[Language]]
The same point is also expressed in the phrase; "there is no Other of the Other."<ref>E 311</ref>
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* [[Linguistics]]
If the Other is the guarantee of the coherence of the subject's discourse, then the falsity of this guarantee is revealed by the fact that the guarantor himself lacks such a guarantee. 
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||
In a clinical context, this means that there is no metalanguage of the transference, no point outside the transference from which it could be finally interpreted and 'liquidated'.
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* [[Other]]
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* [[Real]]
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||
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* [[Subject]]
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* [[Transference]]
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{{Also}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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</div>
  
 
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{{OK}}
 
[[Category:Linguistics]]
 
[[Category:Linguistics]]
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[[Category:Language]]
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[[Category:Symbolic]]
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[[Category:OK]]
  
[[Category:Postmodern theory]]
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__NOTOC__
[[Category:Deconstruction]]
 
[[Category:Poststructuralism]]
 
[[Category:Symbolic]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:25, 20 May 2019

French: métalangage
Linguistic Definition

"Metalanguage" is the technical linguistic term for any form of language which is used to describe or analyze the properties of another language.

Roman Jakobson

Roman Jakobson includes the metalingual function in his list of the functions of language.[1]

Jacques Lacan
Early Work

Lacan's first reference to metalanguage comes in 1956, when he echoes Jakobson's view on the metalingual function of all language:

"All language implies a metalanguage, its already a metalanguage of its own register."[2]

Later Work

A few years later, in 1960, he says precisely the opposite, arguing that "no metalanguage can be spoken."[3]

No "Outside" of Language

What Lacan appears to mean by this remark is that, since every attempt to fix the meaning of language must be done in language, there can be no escape from language, no "outside".

This is reminiscent of Heidegger's views on the impossibility of exiting "the house of language."

Metalanguage Does Not Exist

Lacan rejects the very possibility of a metalinguistic dimension, denies the existence of any metalanguage.

Lacan follows Heidegger's view of language as a "house of being" of which it is impossible to step outside.

Meaning Beyond Language

This also appears similar to the structuralist theme of il n'y a rien hors du texte ("there is nothing outside the text"), but it is not the same; Lacan does not deny that there is a beyond of language (this beyond is the real), but he does argue that this beyond is not of a kind that could finally anchor meaning.

There is, in other words, no transcendental signified, no way that language could "tell the truth about truth."[4]

No Other of the Other

The same point is also expressed in the phrase:

"There is no Other of the Other."[5]

If the Other is the guarantee of the coherence of the subject's discourse, then the falsity of this guarantee is revealed by the fact that the guarantor himself lacks such a guarantee.

Transference

In a clinical context, this means that there is no metalanguage of the transference, no point outside the transference from which it could be finally interpreted and "liquidated."

See Also

References

  1. Jakobson, Roman. "Linguistics and poetics," in Selected Writings, vol. II, Poetry of Grammar and Grammar of Poetry, The Hague: Mouton, 1981 [1960]., p. 25
  2. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p. 226
  3. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.311
  4. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 867-8
  5. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 311