Deixis Explained
Deixis refers to words or phrases whose meaning depends on the context of the utterance, particularly the speaker, the listener, and the time and place of the utterance. These expressions are "context-dependent" and can't be fully understood without knowing the specific situation in which they are used.
Think of it as a pointer that points to something in the real world.
Here are two examples:
1. "Here" and "There"
* Sentence: "Put the book here."
* Explanation: "Here" refers to the location where the speaker is standing. This meaning changes depending on where the speaker is located.
2. "You" and "I"
* Sentence: " I saw you at the store."
* Explanation: "I" refers to the speaker, and "you" refers to the listener. If someone else said this sentence, the meaning of "I" and "you" would shift to reflect that different speaker and listener.
Types of Deixis:
There are various types of deixis, including:
* Personal deixis: Refers to the speaker, the listener, and other participants in the conversation (e.g., "I," "you," "he," "she," "we," "they").
* Spatial deixis: Refers to location (e.g., "here," "there," "this," "that").
* Temporal deixis: Refers to time (e.g., "now," "then," "yesterday," "tomorrow").
* Discourse deixis: Refers to elements within a discourse (e.g., "this" to refer to a previous sentence, "that" to refer to a later one).
Understanding deixis is crucial for interpreting language correctly, as the meaning of deictic expressions can vary greatly depending on the context in which they are used.