Clinical phenomena in the pragmatics of the psychoanalytic discourse p
lay an important role in the treatment of patients with severe ego-pat
hology. J.L. Austins theory of speech acts, in particular the distinct
ion between locutionary and illocutionary acts provides a frame for th
e description of these phenomena. A performative use of utterances can
serve to regulate the transference-relationship. The extent, to which
performatives are used in the psychoanalytic dis course reflects, as
other forms of acting in, the level of ego-functioning and symbol-form
ation.