ABSTRACT
It must be stressed that the Irma dream was communicated in writing and that such formal features as orthography and punctuation were Freud's own elaboration of the dream. In our own clinical practice, most dreams of course are conveyed not in writing but viva voce. In dealing with these orally delivered dreams, we sometimes come unexpectedly upon a peculiar type of dream elaboration that has hitherto escaped focused consideration and which I have judged significant enough to disclose for its implications and its future applicability. At the outset, however, we find in our path a major terminological difficulty and we shall facilitate our progress if we first clear it up.
