Saying what you mean, meaning what you say: language, interaction and interpretation

Abstract

As analysts, we strive to say what we mean, which involves understanding the other person's communication, finding the appropriate form of words to articulate what we have understood, and expressing them in the tone of voice which can be heard. Meaning what we say refers to the authenticity of our response, that what we say is sincere. My theme touches on different ways of saying what we mean and how this can affect the meaning of what we say. Some of the issues are aesthetic, some grammatical. How some sentence structures lead to closing off communication while others open it.

Interpretations of the Term “Actionable” when Discussing Genetic Test Results: What you Mean Is Not What I Heard

“…Given that the term "medically actionable" has a range of specific and multiple meanings, as well as different gist interpretations by the various users (i.e., researchers, clinicians, and patients), we propose that rather than just using the term "actionable," health care providers should also say "what they mean" to reduce mis- It is important to "say what you mean" (Astor 2011;Cimino 1993;Fantry 2016). In order to guide clinicians during patient-provider discussion about genetic test results, we have set out a list of suggested phrases (see Table 3).…”

Introduction to three clinical papers

“…Their contributions are influenced by developmental and neurological research and, equally, are informed by analytic experience. These include pieces by Astor (), Bisagni (), Colman (2013a and 2013b), Connolly (), Knox (), Meredith‐Owen () and Urban (). The three clinical papers in this issue continue this discussion.…”

“…Knox, cited in K's paper, states that the critical issue is what and how much the analysand needs to know about the analyst, and when; K addresses this and adds some helpful considerations. Others who have recently contributed to this question include Astor (‘saying what you mean and meaning what you say’), Colman (analytic work as part of wisdom tradition) and myself (‘the art of what we do’) (Astor , Colman, and Urban, ). All refer to noticeable positive, often immediate transformations when analytic work ‘reach[es] a level of psychic reality not previously accessed by our patients’ (Astor , p. 214).…”

“…Others who have recently contributed to this question include Astor (‘saying what you mean and meaning what you say’), Colman (analytic work as part of wisdom tradition) and myself (‘the art of what we do’) (Astor , Colman, and Urban, ). All refer to noticeable positive, often immediate transformations when analytic work ‘reach[es] a level of psychic reality not previously accessed by our patients’ (Astor , p. 214). Given the Boston Change Process Study Group's () discoveries of transformations at ‘moments of meeting’ during infant‐parent interactions, these clinical papers might be seen as studies into the transcendent function at the physiological as opposed to the symbolic end of the archetypal spectrum.…”

Symbolic objects and the analytic frame

“…3 3 However, Astor is particularly alive to the importance of authentic language and attending to the subtle nuances of words, as discussed in his recent paper ‘Saying what we mean, meaning what we say’ (Astor 2011). …”