I provide an overview of the subject within which the other contributions to this special issue can be placed. The approach is descriptive rather than phenomenological, and my own view is that the descriptive psychopathology in this area is a muddle. Linguists have made most progress so far, which is why I have emphasised their contribution. My further view is that the subject is in urgent need of a new approach, and the phenomenological studies in this special issue are thus very timely.
