The Flavors of Verbs: Implicit Communication in the Age of Masks

Abstract

The situation whereby we meet either in person wearing a mask, or remotely on video, can give preeminence to speech over implicit expressivity and thus to abstract/conceptual discourse which risks remaining far removed from experience. This affects bodily experience, and consequently the manifestation of emotions, movement and their processing. It is therefore essential to reflect on language and to shape it so that it comes as close as possible to the bodily and motor experience. Verbs that designate a general function (such as “to see,” “to hear,” “to understand,” and many others) should be brought as close as possible to the way in which that function, from time to time, takes place, to the particular context, with its specific experiential and emotional tone. Three clinical vignettes are given to illustrate our therapeutic approach.

Keywords:

• implicit communication
• embodiment
• language
• mimesis
• ancient Greek language

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gianni Nebbiosi

Gianni Nebbiosi, PhD, President, Founding member, Faculty, Supervising analyst of ISIPSÉ (Institute for Self Psychology and Relational Psychoanalysis – Italy); Founding and Board Member of IARPP – International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy; Member International Council of IAPSP - International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology; Member Editorial Board of the journal “Psychoanalytic Dialogues”; Member editorial Board of the journal “Psychoanalytic Inquiry”; Corresponding Editor of the journal “Contemporary Psychoanalysis.” He was cochair of the IARPP 13th Annual Conference “The Arts of Time: Relational Psychoanalysis and Forms of Vitality in Clinical Process” held in Rome June 9-12, 2016. He is published in Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Psychoanalytic Inquiry and other international journals.

Susanna Federici

Susanna Federici, PhD, President of IARPP (International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy); Founding member, Faculty, Supervising analyst of ISIPSÉ (Institute for Self Psychology and Relational Psychoanalysis – Italy); past member International Board IAPSP (International Association Psychoanalytic Self Psychology). She has presented her work at IARPP conferences; at IAPSP conferences, and at many international Institutes. She was cochair of the Fourth European Conference on Self Psychology held in Rome in 2006 and was guest speaker at the 6° Reunion Anual de IARPP Espana (Valencia 2015). She was cochair of the IARPP 13th Annual Conference “The Arts of Time: Relational Psychoanalysis and Forms of Vitality in Clinical Process” held in Rome June 9-12, 2016. She is published in Psychoanalytic Dialogues, Psychoanalytic Inquiry and other international journals.