According to Lacan, language is a key component of human subjectivity, and symbolic systems shape our perceptions of ourselves and others.
Air quotes, also known as finger quotes indicate that a word or phrase is being used ironically, sarcastically, or in a way that is not meant to be taken literally. This gesture creates a gap between the signifier (the spoken word) and the signified (the intended meaning).
Language is a system of signs that does not correspond directly to reality but instead creates symbolic structures that shape our perception of reality.
The gap between the signifier and the signified is what allows for the creation of these symbolic structures, and it is this gap that air quotes highlight. The air quotes become a symbol of this gap.
This symbolic structure is reinforced by the fact that the gesture itself is not necessary for communication, the same end could be acheived communicating without air quotes.
Furthermore, Lacan argues that the subject is constituted by language and that the subject’s identity is formed through linguistic structures. By using air quotes, the speaker is highlighting the constructed nature of language and identity. The gesture calls attention to the fact that language is not a transparent medium but instead shapes our perceptions of ourselves and others.
This was a quick idea I wrote down and reworded with gpt, does this make enough sense or am I just blabbering here?
it adds a layer, yes, but why would it create a gap?
also, when you write that it creates a gap, you assume that there was no gap between the signifier and the signified beforehand
There is already a gap between the signifier and the signified, yes, but air quotes make this gap more explicit and intentional.
By gap I mean a conceptual distinction between the word being used and its intended meaning.