Vincent, Bruno
Lacan’s neological logics
- 2020.
63
This study aims to demonstrate the role of neologisms in Lacan’s teaching. It draws up an existing collection of Lacan’s neologisms, taking into account both his seminars and his writings. We look at the neologisms he chose throughout his teaching career, which were linked to his theoretical development.In his early teaching, the symbolic register was at the forefront, and his neologisms were part of a logic of the signifier, following two directions: wit and the development of knowledge. When the real began to take center stage in his teaching, other neological logics were added to this logic of the signifier. A logic of the letter, a logic of saying, a logic of lalangue and a logic of naming. What these different logics have in common is that they respond to the project of an ironic style announced at the beginning of Lacan’s teaching. It is a style that asks the reader or the listener questions, inviting him or her to make an effort. Lacan’s neologisms were rarely defined. They were linked to word associations that were evocations that produced connotations. His neologisms characterize a style that is far removed from definition and conceptual discourse.