Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to or characteristic of a word whose meaning depends on the immediate context of its use. Deictic words point to something in the situation shared by the speaker and listener, requiring contextual information (like who is speaking, where, or when) to be fully understood.

2. Noun:

   • A word or expression that specifies identity, spatial location, or temporal location from the perspective of a speaker or hearer within the specific context of communication. Deictics serve to anchor the message to the shared physical and cognitive environment of the participants.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The words 'this', 'here', and 'now' are all deictic because their meaning changes depending on who is speaking and where.
  • In linguistics, deictic reference is crucial for understanding how language connects to the real world.

• Noun:

  • Pronouns like 'I', 'you', and 'she' are common deictics.
  • In the sentence "Put that there," both 'that' and 'there' function as deictics.

Advanced Usage

• Deictic center (or origo): The central reference point, typically the speaker's "here and now," from which deictic expressions are interpreted.

  • In the utterance "Come here," the deictic center is the speaker's current location.

• Deictic shift: A change in the perspective from which deictic terms are interpreted, often occurring in narratives.

  • The novel uses a deictic shift to allow the reader to see events from the protagonist's point of view.

Variants and Related Words

• Deixis (n): The general phenomenon or function of words and phrases that rely on context. Deixis is the broader category that deictic words fulfill.

  • The study of deixis examines how language points to people, places, and times.

• Deictically (adv): In a deictic manner.

  • The pronoun is used deictically to refer to the person holding the object.

Synonyms

• Indexical: (Especially in philosophy and semiotics) Having a meaning that is dependent on the context of use.
• Context-dependent: Relying on the surrounding situation for full interpretation.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Person deixis: Deictic expressions that point to participant roles (e.g., I, you, we).

  • "I" and "you" are examples of person deixis.

• Spatial deixis: Deictic expressions that point to locations (e.g., here, there, this, that).

  • The difference between 'here' and 'there' is a matter of spatial deixis.

• Temporal deixis: Deictic expressions that point to times (e.g., now, then, yesterday, tomorrow).

  • The word 'now' is a clear instance of temporal deixis.

Adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a word whose reference depends on the circumstances of its use
   • deictic pronouns

Noun

1. a word specifying identity or spatial or temporal location from the perspective of a speaker or hearer in the context in which the communication occurs
   • words that introduce particulars of the speaker's and hearer's shared cognitive field into the message- R.Rommetveit