Lapsus (transl. Slip)
🗓️ 22 maggio 2024 — Dive into today's Italian word of the day, its oranges, and its uses. Explore Italian language and culture with us!
[LAP-soos]
NOUN
Slip.
Italians often use this Latin word to indicate involuntary errors while writing or speaking, such as substituting one sound or letter for another, merging two or more words into one, omitting a word, pronouncing or writing one name instead of another, etc.
You may encounter or read lapsus associated with other Latin words. In those cases, it’s where the error has been made.
Lapsus calami → typo
Lapsus linguae → slip of tongue
Lapsus memoriae → slip of memory
💬 EXAMPLE SENTENCES
Che lapsus! Ho chiamato mamma l’insegnante…
What a slip of the tongue! I called the teacher mom...
Ho scritto “oranges” al posto di “origins” nella descrizione di questa newsletter, ma è stato solo un lapsus.
I wrote "oranges" instead of "origins" in the description of this newsletter, but it was just a typo.
⚡IDIOMS
Lapsus freudiano
Similar English expression
Freudian slip
🔎 WORD ORIGINS
Lapsus comes from the Latin verb "labi," meaning "to slip" or "to fall."
Therefore, the past participle form "lapsus" directly translates to "slipped" or "fallen."
🤓 DID YOU KNOW THAT…
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Lapsus in Italian Literature: La Coscienza di Zeno
One of the most famous examples of a lapsus in literature is found in Italo Svevo's novel La Coscienza di Zeno (Zeno's Conscience). The protagonist, Zeno Cosini, often experiences situations where his subconscious desires manifest as lapsus or slips. This theme aligns closely with Freudian psychoanalysis, which Svevo was deeply interested in.
In the novel, Zeno recounts his life through a series of disorganized diary entries, which he writes at the suggestion of his psychoanalyst. One notable lapsus occurs when Zeno, intending to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law Guido Speier, mistakenly goes to the wrong funeral. This error is not merely a random mistake but reveals Zeno's underlying ambivalence and unresolved feelings toward Guido.
Zeno’s frequent lapsus highlight the tension between his conscious intentions and unconscious motivations, offering a rich examination of the psychological dimensions of human behavior. The novel's portrayal of these slips provides a window into Zeno’s inner conflicts and subconscious mind, making La Coscienza di Zeno a seminal work in exploring the complexities of the human psyche.
Italo Svevo's integration of Freudian ideas into his narrative technique was groundbreaking. La Coscienza di Zeno remains a profound exploration of human consciousness, portraying lapsus reflecting deeper, often hidden, aspects of personality and internal conflict. The novel's impact is such that it influenced the development of modernist literature in Italy, partly thanks to its innovative use of psychoanalytic concepts.
Lapsus in Italian Art: Emilio Tadini’s Lapsus
Emilio Tadini's artwork "Lapsus" delves into themes of subconscious mistakes and the fluidity of memory and language. As an Italian painter and writer, Tadini drew inspiration from Surrealism and English Pop Art. His pieces frequently portray overlapping temporal planes, merging memory with reality and juxtaposing the tragic with the comic.
"Lapsus" reflects Tadini's extensive exploration of human psychology, focusing on how subconscious thoughts manifest as verbal or written slips. This theme closely aligns with Freudian theories about the unconscious mind. Tadini's art often features vivid, dreamlike imagery and intricate narratives, prompting viewers to introspect on their own cognitive processes.
Tadini's influence extends across multiple art movements, with exhibitions in major cities like Paris, London, and New York. His unique ability to blend literary and visual arts has secured his prominent position in the post-war Italian art scene, with significant exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Venice Biennale and the Royal Palace in Milan.
👉 YOUR TURN
Can you use the word LAPSUS correctly in a sentence?
Based on the definition and examples provided, write a sentence using today's word of the day and share it as a comment on this post. It is important that your sentence makes sense and shows that you understand the word's definition, but we also encourage you to use creativity and have fun.