METALINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THERAPEUTIC DISCOURSE - FLIGHT INTO A 2ND LANGUAGE WHEN THE ANALYST AND THE ANALYSAND ARE MULTILINGUAL

The choice of a particular language for the conduct of analysis become s an important theoretical and clinical question when both the analyst and the analysand are multilingual and share the same languages. Shif t from one language into another language during analysis is an equall y important question. This paper offers an analysis of the flight into a second language by both the analysand and the analyst within the tr ansference-countertransference matrix. The focus of the discussion is the communicative nature of the mother tongue vis-a-vis a second langu age. The author argues that unconscious fantasies and memories of earl y childhood experiences are built into the mother tongue and are broug ht to life in the analytic dialogue by way of that language. Shift int o a second language is viewed as primarily defensive in nature. It is, however, noted that a second language may at times provide the only s pace where the analyst can meet the patient out of reach of certain pe rsonal and cultural ghosts. Finally, since the mother tongue is viewed as the preverbal register of the transitional space, it is suggested that the working through of preoedipal issues be ultimately carried ou t in that language.