Word in a relationship - someone’s, from somewhere, with something, in between

Abstract

The article discusses the meaning of the word in the psychologist’s work. The primary aim of the article is to emphasize how extremely important language is, how skilfully you can and should use it in professions other than those in which the word is the focus of interest. The specific objective of the article is to show that the word is much more than just a sign, as it resonates with its whole story. The words used in a conversation do not belong only to the person who utters them. Before they are spoken in a particular situation, they already exist. Thus, they carry a specific history of meanings, and hence their use is not accidental – because of the content which they have acquired by social agreement and tradition, and through personal meanings. And once the word is spoken, it starts belonging to someone else, namely the person who has heard it, at the same time remaining in the common space of the relationship. This is a relationship between the helper and the person receiving help, between the lecturer and the student, between researchers of the same and of different disciplines. Also, it is a relationship between the one who utters the word and all those whose experiences have built up its meaning.