The Babel of the unconscious : mother tongue and foreign languages in the psychoanalytic dimension

The Babel of the Unconscious: Mother Tongue and Foreign Languages in the Psychoanalytic Dimension is a groundbreaking work by Jacqueline Amati-Mehler, Simona Argentieri, and Jorge Canestri, first published in 1993. This book explores the intricate interaction between language, identity, and the unconscious in psychoanalytic practice, offering a unique perspective on how the mother tongue and foreign languages shape emotional experiences and the human psyche.Key Themes and ApproachThe authors propose that language plays a central role in forming the unconscious and influencing an individual's emotional experience. They examine how the use of different languages impacts psychoanalytic work for both the analyst and the patient. Through case studies, linguistic theory, and practical experiences, they reveal how the unconscious responds differently to the mother tongue compared to foreign languages, creating a "Babel of the unconscious," where meanings, affects, and symbols vary with each language.The Mother Tongue and the UnconsciousThe book highlights that the mother tongue, imbued with childhood memories, primary emotions, and formative experiences, profoundly impacts the unconscious. In psychoanalytic contexts, the mother tongue opens deeper layers of the self, allowing patients to access deeply rooted memories and traumas. The authors argue that the mother tongue acts as a bridge to the unconscious, facilitating the expression of feelings and internal conflicts that may be inaccessible in a secondary language.Foreign Languages and Emotional DistanceWhen either the patient or the analyst communicates in a foreign language, unique challenges arise. According to the authors, speaking in a non-native language can create an "emotional distance," where patients may feel less vulnerable or exposed, becoming more defensive and less inclined to explore deeply rooted emotions. This distance can paradoxically aid in treating severe traumas, as the foreign language... Preface / Otto F. Kernberg -- Introduction / Tullio De Mauro -- 1. Journey To Babel. The Myth Of Babel -- 2. The Historical Roots Of Polylingualism And Poly-glottism In Psychoanalysis. The Vienna Of Freud. Freud And The Problem Of The Aphasias. Ferenczi And Obscene Words -- 3. Psychoananalytic Literature On The Problem Of Languages. Pioneer Migration: New Countries And Old Tongues. Twenty Years Later -- 4. Identity And Gender Identity Through Languages. Mother And Mother Tongue. Mother Figures And Their Languages: Nannies, Nurses, And Governesses. Family Romance And Father Tongue -- 5. Questions -- 6. Repression And Memory. In The Service Of Time. Personal Experience. A Clinical Case: Lost Feelings And Objects -- 7. Children And Languages -- 8. The Preverbal The Nonverbal Or Paralinguistic In Analysis. The Magic Of Words -- 9. From The Poets' World: Estrangement As A Profession. Louis Wolfson, Le Jeune Ome Sqizofrene Samuel Beckett, All Strange, Away Vladimir Nabokov, Emigrant By Profession. Fred Uhlman, The Making Of An Englishman. Elias Canetti And The Enchanted Language. Hector Bianciotti: The Secrecy Of Languages. Amanda Morris Prantera: A Strange Loop. Dante And The Language Of Adam: Ur-sprache And The Myth Of The Primordial One -- 10. Cross-disciplinary Intersections. On The Borderline With Other Disciplines. The Sapir-whorf Theory -- 11. Translation Possible, Translation Impossible. Interpretation, Analytic Work And Translation. A Session In Several Languages. The Transmission Of Psychoanalysis -- 12. Some Answers. Splitting And Integration. On Two Stages: The Case Of A. Bachtin And The Concept Of Polylogism. Polylogism And Psychoanalysis. Jacqueline Amati-mehler, Simona Argentieri, Jorge Canestri ; Translated From The Italian By Jill Whitelaw-cucco. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.