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This paper reviews modes of communication in language and literature which follow iconic principles in implying physical actions. This form of communication is considered an important area of study for psychoanalysts, particularly those working with borderline or psychotic patients. The paper traces the root of this form of communication to the hypothetical origin of language: the move from implying the communicator's mental content by actual action to symbolic communication via the intermediate stage of implied or pretend actions. Despite the dominance of words as the primary vehicle for meaning, preconscious and unconscious mental content continues to be conveyed through actions implied by distortions to the phonetic and syntactic properties of language.
Dr. I. Fónagy is Member, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and Former Research Director, Centre Nationial de Recherches Scientifiques.
Dr.P. Fonagy is Freud Memorial Professor of Psychoanalysis, Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology, University College, London, and Research Director, The Anna Freud Centre.
An abbreviated version of this paper was presented at the First IPA Conference on Psychoanalysis and Literature, University College, London, November 1992.
Expressivity in live speech and literature is seen as in part conveyed through such distortions. Knowledge of these mechanisms can also be of value to the practicing clinician who normally intuitively responds to the patient's communications by pretend actions, but is rarely aware of how the communication occurred.