DEIXIS AND DISTANCE

by

Kulsoom Mushtaq

DeixisDefinitions:

• The word ‘deixis’ is a technical term (from Greek) for one of the most basic things we do with utterances, which means ‘pointing via language.’

(George Yule)

• “Deixis concerns ways in which the interpretation of utterance depends on the analysis of that context of utterance.”

(Stephen C. Levinson)

Deixis is any word that cannot be interpreted without reference to physical context: the speaker, addressee, time, and place of utterance. For Example:

you’ll have to bring that back tomorrow, because they aren’t there now.

• Out of context, this sentence is extremely vague. It contains a larger number of expressions (you, that, tomorrow, they, here, now) which depend for their interpretation on the immediate physical context in which they were uttered.

These cannot be understood in terms of speaker’s intended meaning.These are technically known as deictic expressions.

Deictic Expression• Any linguistic form used to accomplish

‘pointing’ is called a deictic expression.

• Deictic expressions are also known as indexicals.

Deictic Expression• Deictic expressions are meaningful in a given

context.• They are among the first words acquired by

children.• In order to be interpreted correctly, the speaker and

listener have to share the same context.• They are particularly useful in face to face

communication.

Deictic Expression• What are the deictic expressions in the following

utterance?

I’m busy now you can’t do that here. Come back tomorrow.

Types of Deixis• Person Deixis: any expression used to point to a

person (me, you, him, them) is an example of PERSON DEIXIS.

• Space/Spatial/Place Deixis: words used to point to a location (here, there) are examples of Place Deixis.

• Time/Temporal Deixis: the expression used to a time (now, then, tonight, last week, yesterday) are examples of Time Deixis.

Person Deixis• Person deixis operates on a basis three-part

division, exemplified by the pronouns for first person (‘I’), second person (‘you’), and third person (‘he, she, it’).

• A speech event includes at least two persons:

- first person = speaker

- second person = addressee• Usually the third person is not grammatically

marked, because the only two persons of importance are the first person and the second person.

Person Deixis

• Pronouns:

All languages have personal pronouns or at least words, that refer to the participants of the speech act.

• The pronouns of the first (I-my-mine) and second person (you-your-yours) are deictic (reference to the speaking person).

• It is also possible to have deictic pronouns for the third person.• Definite and specific pronouns:

this, that, those, or these.• Indefinite and specific pronouns:

somebody, something, who, what.• Indefinite and non-specific pronouns:

someone, something, nobody, nothing.

SOCIAL DEIXIS: forms used to indicate relative social status. In many languages deictic categories become markers of relative social status.

HONORIFICS: expressions that mark that the addressee is of higher status.

SOCIAL DEIXIS

Examples of SOCIAL DEIXIS

In Spanish the “Tú”- “Usted” distinction.• The choice of one form will communicate

something, not directly said, about the speaker’s view of his relation with the addressee.

• The higher, older and more powerful speaker will tend to use the “tú” and viceversa.

• Nowadays, the age distinction remains more powerful than the economic distinction in many countries.

Using the 3rd person form

• Communicates distance and non-familiarity. Also, it has an ironic or humorous purpose.

i.e: Would his highness like some coffee?

• Also used to make accusations:

“Somebody didn’t clean up after himself” (less direct than “You didn’t clean”

Space/Spatial/Place Deixis• The concept of distance is relevant to spatial deixis, where the relative

location of people and things is being indicated.

• Some pure place-deictic words: here and there (adverbs); this and that (demonstrative pronouns).

• Here = (near); there = (more distant)

• Demonstrative pronouns:This = the object in a pragmatically given area close to the speaker’s location.That = the object beyond the pragmatically given area close to the speaker’s location.

Ex:

I’m writing to say I’m having a marvelous time here. (includes the location of speaker)

Bring that here and take this there. (away from the location of speaker)

• Motion verbs:

come vs. go makes distinction between the direction of motion.

• She’s coming = she is moving towards the speaker’s location.

• She’s going = she is moving away from the speaker’s location.

• I’m coming = the speaker is moving towards the location of the addressee.

Time deixis

Expressions referring to time:five minutes ago tomorrow last week next Monday

Choice of tense:• present tense : He doesn’t know.

(this is nearer to the point of reference)

• past tense: Yesterday I slept for 10 hours(this communicates distance from

current time)

• Conditionalsif I won the lottery I would …(this communicates distance from current reality)

• Time Deixis is relevant to various other deictic elements in language:

Ex: • Greetings:

Good morning (can only be used in the morning)

• Expressions:

the former president, my ex-roommate

DEIXIS AND GRAMMAR

The distinctions for person, spatial, and temporal deixis can be seen at work in English grammar structures such as DIRECT and INDIRECT (reported)SPEECH.

i.e: Are you planning to be here this evening? –

I asked her.

REPORTED FORM

• I asked her if she was planing to be there that evening

There’ s a shift from the “near speaker” meaning of direct speech to the “away from speaker” meaning of reported speech, with the use of DISTAL DEICTIC forms.