Final answer:
Clang associations are a speech pattern where words are associated based on sounds rather than meaning, often found in certain psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. This type of speech lacks standard semantic connections between words, thus disrupting coherent thought processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clang associations refer to a form of speech disturbance that can be observed in certain psychiatric conditions. This pattern of speech is characterized by the association of words based on their sounds rather than their meanings, more typically found as a symptom in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder during manic phases. It is distinct from a logical and coherent pattern of speech because it lacks the standard semantic or meaningful connections between words.
As an example, a person exhibiting Clang associations might say something like, 'I heard the bell, well, tell, fell, shell,' associating words that rhyme without regard to whether they make sense together in context. This type of speech disruption is indicative of a disrupted thought process and is not related to praxis and gnosis, which involve the conscious perception and processing of sensory information related to motor responses and recognition of objects. Clang associations differ vastly from the use of metaphors, analogies, and a deliberate way of speaking because those involve intentional and often meaningful language use.