Difference between revisions of "Shifter"

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The term '[[shifter]]' was introduced into [[linguistics]] by (Danish linguist) [[Otto Jespersen]] (1860-1943) to refer to those elements in [[language]] whose general [[meaning]] cannot be defined without reference to the message (to describe a class of words whose meaning varies according to their situation or whose references varies).  
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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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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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=====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]] [[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 [[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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=====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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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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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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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."<ref>Jakobson, 1957: 132</ref>
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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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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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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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This makes the [[shifter]] a 'symbol'.  
 
  
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Jakobson concludes that shifters combine both [[Symbolic]] and indexical functions and 'belong therefore to the class of indexical symbols."<ref>Jakobson, 1957: 132.</ref>
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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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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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This makes the [[shifter]] a "[[symbol]]."
  
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Also, since grammar is implicated in ''parole'', the ''langue''/''parole'' distinction is put into question.
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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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Following [[Jakobson]], [[Lacan]] uses the term '[[shifter]]' (in English) to show the problematic and undecidable nature of the 'I' (''Je'').  
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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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However, while [[Jakobson]] defines the [[shifter]] as an indexical symbol, Lacan defines it as an indexical signifier.  
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Also, since grammar is implicated in ''[[parole]]'', the ''[[langue]]'' / ''[[parole]]'' [[distinction]] is put into question.
  
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This problematises the distinction between [[enunciation]] and statement.  
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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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On the one hand, as a [[signifier]] it is clearly part of the statement.  
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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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On the other hand, as an index it is clearly part of the [[enunciation]].  
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=====Enunciation and Statement=====
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This problematises the distinction between [[enunciation]] and [[statement]].  
  
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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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On the one hand, as a [[signifier]] it is clearly part of the [[statement]].  
  
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"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>{{Sll}} p.139</ref>
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On the other hand, as an [[index]] it is clearly part of the [[enunciation]].
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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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<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>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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* [[Jakobson]]
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{{See}}
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* [[symbolic]]
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* [[Enunciation]]
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* [[symbol]]
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* [[Index]]
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* [[statement]]
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* [[enunciation]]
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* [[Language]]
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* [[linguistics]]
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* [[Meaning]]
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* ''[[langue]]''
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* ''[[parole]]''
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* [[Signifier]]
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* [[splitting]]
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* [[Split]]
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* [[subject]]
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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: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: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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[[Category:Linguistics]]
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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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