Linguistics\Pragmatics\Deixis
Overview:
Deixis is a key concept in the field of pragmatics within linguistics. Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics concerned with the ways in which context contributes to meaning. Unlike semantics, which focuses on meaning in the abstract, pragmatics deals with practical aspects of human communication, encompassing meaning as negotiated in specific conversational settings. Within this domain, deixis refers to the phenomenon where understanding the meaning of certain expressions requires contextual information.
Detailed Description:
Deixis (from the Greek word “deiktikos,” meaning “pointing” or “indicating”) refers to words and phrases that cannot be fully understood without additional contextual information. These expressions essentially “point” to something that must be identified within a given communicative context.
Types of Deixis:
- Person Deixis: This type involves expressions that identify people involved in the discourse. Common person deictic expressions include pronouns such as “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “we,” and “they.” For example:
- “I will go to the store.”
- In this instance, “I” refers to the speaker, and the meaning changes depending on who the speaker is.
- Place Deixis: These expressions point to a location. They include words like “here,” “there,” “this,” “that,” “above,” and “below.” For example:
- “Put the book there.”
- “There” refers to a specific location that must be known to both the speaker and the listener.
- Time Deixis: Temporal expressions are used to indicate specific points or intervals of time. Examples include “now,” “then,” “soon,” “yesterday,” and dates or times. For example:
- “We will meet tomorrow.”
- Here, “tomorrow” refers to the day following the current day.
- Discourse Deixis: This involves expressions referring to parts of the discourse itself. Words like “this,” “that,” “the following,” and “the previous” are examples. For example:
- “This is how we do it.”
- “This” refers to a concept or procedure previously mentioned or about to be demonstrated in the discourse.
- Social Deixis: Social deixis refers to terms that embody contextual information about social relationships. Titles and forms of address such as “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Dr.,” “madam,” “sir,” or varying levels of speech formality, such as the use of “tu” and “vous” in French, are examples. For example:
- “Could you pass the salt, please?”
- “Please” marks the politeness level and hence reflects social deixis.
Significance in Linguistics:
Understanding deixis is crucial for accurately interpreting spoken and written language. Since deictic terms rely heavily on the context of the conversation, they are integral to the cohesive and coherent flow of discourse. Misinterpreting these terms can lead to confusion or miscommunication.
Conclusion:
Deixis highlights the intrinsically contextual nature of language. It bridges the gap between the interlocutors’ worlds and the linguistic expressions used within those worlds. By exploring deixis, linguists can gain deeper insights into how meaning is dynamically constructed and conveyed in verbal communication.