[Then, something goes wrong. Constructed society is flawed. The reigning symbolic order cannot tell why.
The symbolic order adjusts to discrepancies between what people have built (and invested in) and its consequences due to violations of lawessential. The elites always have explanations for unintended consequences. As golden calves, they also have the scapegoats to blame.
However, these expressions of lawdenial alter the language. The elites transform the meaning of words in order to suit their personal and institutional needs.
The zipper is transformed piecemeal. Some sections remain original. Other sections are adapted to interlace with new or altered material.
As the discrepancies multiply within the symbolic order, they pressure all the other oppositions (that had originally fell into line). Words that seemed to be distinct suddenly develop similarities. Some oppositions appear to no longer hold.
When the grounding opposition fails, a crisis of legitimation ensues.]