Difference between revisions of "Shifter"

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=====Linguistic Definition=====
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The term "[[shifter]]" was introduced into [[linguistics]] by [[linguist]] [[Otto Jespersen]] to refer to those elements in [[language]] whose general [[meaning]] cannot be defined without reference to the [[message]].
  
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A term used by [[Jakobson]] to describe a class of words whose meaning varies according to their situation or whose references varies.
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=====Roman Jakobson=====
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For Jakobson, a shifter is a term whose meaning cannot be determined without referring to the message that is being communicated between a sender and a receiver.<ref>1957</ref>
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For [[Jakobson]], a [[shifter]] is a term whose [[meaning]] cannot be determined without referring to the [[message]] that is [[being]] [[communicate]]d between a sender and a receiver.<ref>[[Roman Jakobson|Jakobson, Roman]]. 1957. "Shifters, [[verbal]] [[categories]], and the Russian verb," in ''Selected Writings'', vol. II, ''[[Word]] and Language'', The [[Hague]]: Mouton, 1971. p. 132</ref>
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Personal pronouns are shifters: the word 'I' designates both the speaker or sender who says 'I' and the 'I' contained in the message that is sent.
 
  
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=====Examples=====
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Personal pronouns are [[shifter]]s: the word "I" designates both the [[speaker]] or sender who says "I" and the "I" contained in the [[message]] that is sent.
  
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shifter        The term 'shifter' was introduced into linguistics by Otto Jespersen
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For example the pronouns "I" and "you", as well as [[words]] like "here" and "now", and the tenses, can only be [[understood]] by reference to the context in which they are uttered.
  
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in 1923 to refer to those elements in language whose general meaning cannot
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=====Roman Jakobson=====
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=====General Meaning=====
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[[Roman Jakobson]] developed the [[concept]] in an article published in 1957.
  
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be defined without reference to the message. For example the pronouns 'I' and
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Before this article, "the peculiarity of the personal pronoun and [[other]] shifters was often believed to consist in the [[lack]] of a single, constant, general meaning."<ref>[[Roman Jakobson|Jakobson, Roman]]. 1957. "Shifters, verbal categories, and the Russian verb," in ''Selected Writings'', vol. II, ''Word and Language'', The Hague: Mouton, 1971. p. 132</ref>
  
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'you', as well as words like 'here' and 'now', and the tenses, can only be
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[[Jakobson]] argues that [[shifter]]s do have a single general [[meaning]]; for example the personal pronoun "I" always means "the person uttering I".
  
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understood by reference to the context in which they are uttered. Roman
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This makes the [[shifter]] a "[[symbol]]."
  
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Jakobson developed the concept in an article published in 1957. Before this
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=====Indexical Symbol=====
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[[Jakobson]] concludes that [[shifter]]s combine both [[symbolic]] and [[index]]ical functions and "belong therefore to the [[class]] of indexical [[symbols]]."<ref>[[Roman Jakobson|Jakobson, Roman]]. 1957. "Shifters, verbal categories, and the Russian verb," in ''Selected Writings'', vol. II, ''Word and Language'', The Hague: Mouton, 1971. p. 132</ref>
  
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article, 'the peculiarity of the personal pronoun and other shifters was often
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=====Context-Free Grammar=====
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In this way, [[Jakobson]] questions the possibility of a context-free grammar, since the [[enunciation]] is encoded in the [[statement]] itself.
  
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believed    to consist in the lack of        a single, constant, general meaning'
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Also, since grammar is implicated in ''[[parole]]'', the ''[[langue]]'' / ''[[parole]]'' [[distinction]] is put into question.
  
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(Jakobson, 1957: 132). In terms of Peirce's typology of SIGNs, shifters were
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=====Jacques Lacan=====
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Following [[Jakobson]], [[Lacan]] uses the term "[[shifter]]" (in [[English]]) to show the problematic and undecidable [[nature]] of the "I" (''Je'').
  
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treated as pure indices (see INDEx). However, following Peirce's own argument
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=====Indexical Signifier=====
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However, while [[Jakobson]] defines the [[shifter]] as an [[index]]ical [[symbol]], [[Lacan]] defines it as an [[index]]ical [[signifier]].  
  
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(Peirce, 1932: 156-73), Jakobson argues that shifters do have a single general
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=====Enunciation and Statement=====
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This problematises the distinction between [[enunciation]] and [[statement]].
  
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meaning; for example the personal pronoun I always            means 'the person
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On the one hand, as a [[signifier]] it is clearly part of the [[statement]].
  
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uttering I'. This makes the shifter a 'symbol'. Jakobson concludes that shifters
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On the other hand, as an [[index]] it is clearly part of the [[enunciation]].  
  
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combine both [[Symbolic]] and indexical functions and 'belong therefore to the
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=====Division of the Subject=====
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This [[division]] of the "I" is not merely illustrative of the [[splitting]] of the [[subject]]; it is that [[split]].  
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class of INDEXICAL SYMBOLS' (Jakobson, 1957: 132). In this way,
 
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Jakobson questions the possibility of          a context-free grammar, since the
 
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  ENUNCIATION is encoded in the statement itself. Also, since grammar is impli-
 
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cated in parole, the langue/parole distinction is also put into question (see
 
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Caton, 1987: 234-7).
 
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      Following Jakobson, Lacan uses the term 'shifter' (in English), or 'index-
 
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term' as he also calls it (E, 186), to show the problematic and undecidable
 
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nature of the I (Je). However, while Jakobson (following Peirce) defmes the
 
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shifter as an indexical symbol, Lacan defines it as an indexical signifier. This
 
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problematises the distinction between enunciation and statement. On the one
 
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hand, as a signifier it is clearly part of the statement. On the other hand, as an
 
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index it is clearly part of the enunciation. This division of the I is not merely
 
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illustrative of the splitting of the subject; it is that split. 'Indeed, the I of the
 
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enunciation is not the same as the I of the statement, that is to say, the shifter
 
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which, in the statement, designates him' (Sll, 139). Lacan also identifies the
 
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French particle ne as a shifter (E, 298).
 
  
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<blockquote>"Indeed, the I of the enunciation is not the same as the I of the statement, that is to say, the shifter which, in the statement, designates him."<ref>{{S11}} p.139</ref></blockquote>
  
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==See Also==
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{{See}}
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* [[Enunciation]]
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* [[Index]]
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* [[Language]]
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* [[Meaning]]
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* [[Signifier]]
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* [[Split]]
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||
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* [[Subject]]
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* [[Symbol]]
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{{Also}}
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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</div>
  
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[[Category:Lacan]]
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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]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
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[[Category:Concepts]]
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[[Category:OK]]
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[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 23:07, 20 May 2019

Linguistic Definition

The term "shifter" was introduced into linguistics by linguist Otto Jespersen to refer to those elements in language whose general meaning cannot be defined without reference to the message.

Roman Jakobson

For Jakobson, a shifter is a term whose meaning cannot be determined without referring to the message that is being communicated between a sender and a receiver.[1]

Examples

Personal pronouns are shifters: the word "I" designates both the speaker or sender who says "I" and the "I" contained in the message that is sent.

For example the pronouns "I" and "you", as well as words like "here" and "now", and the tenses, can only be understood by reference to the context in which they are uttered.

Roman Jakobson
General Meaning

Roman Jakobson developed the concept in an article published in 1957.

Before this article, "the peculiarity of the personal pronoun and other shifters was often believed to consist in the lack of a single, constant, general meaning."[2]

Jakobson argues that shifters do have a single general meaning; for example the personal pronoun "I" always means "the person uttering I".

This makes the shifter a "symbol."

Indexical Symbol

Jakobson concludes that shifters combine both symbolic and indexical functions and "belong therefore to the class of indexical symbols."[3]

Context-Free Grammar

In this way, Jakobson questions the possibility of a context-free grammar, since the enunciation is encoded in the statement itself.

Also, since grammar is implicated in parole, the langue / parole distinction is put into question.

Jacques Lacan

Following Jakobson, Lacan uses the term "shifter" (in English) to show the problematic and undecidable nature of the "I" (Je).

Indexical Signifier

However, while Jakobson defines the shifter as an indexical symbol, Lacan defines it as an indexical signifier.

Enunciation and Statement

This problematises the distinction between enunciation and statement.

On the one hand, as a signifier it is clearly part of the statement.

On the other hand, as an index it is clearly part of the enunciation.

Division of the Subject

This division of the "I" is not merely illustrative of the splitting of the subject; it is that split.

"Indeed, the I of the enunciation is not the same as the I of the statement, that is to say, the shifter which, in the statement, designates him."[4]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Jakobson, Roman. 1957. "Shifters, verbal categories, and the Russian verb," in Selected Writings, vol. II, Word and Language, The Hague: Mouton, 1971. p. 132
  2. ↑ Jakobson, Roman. 1957. "Shifters, verbal categories, and the Russian verb," in Selected Writings, vol. II, Word and Language, The Hague: Mouton, 1971. p. 132
  3. ↑ Jakobson, Roman. 1957. "Shifters, verbal categories, and the Russian verb," in Selected Writings, vol. II, Word and Language, The Hague: Mouton, 1971. p. 132
  4. ↑ 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


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