PRAGMATICS George Yule Deixis and Distance Before that

PRAGMATICS – George Yule

Deixis and Distance

Before that….

QUIZ!!!

1. What is pragmatics? 2. Give example of pragmatics phenomenon! 3. How pragmatics help you in understanding language phenomenon around you? 1. What is pragmatics Competence? 2. How to upgrade you pragmatics competence

Deixis and Distance

2. DEIXIS and DISTANCE DEIXIS: “pointing via langauge” To accomplish this pointing we use deictic expressions or indexicals. i. e: “What’s that? ” (used to indicate sth. in the immediate context. )

2. DEIXIS and DISTANCE Deictic expressions depend on the speaker and hearer sharing the same spatial context, in face-to face spoken interaction.

Deixis is reference by means of an expression whose interpretation is relative to the (usually) extra linguistic context of the utterance

Extra Linguistic Context of The Utterance who is speaking the time or place of speaking the gestures of the speaker the current location in the discourse

Types of deixis Ø Person deixis: used to point people. (me, you) Ø Spatial deixis: used to point location (here, there). Ø Temporal dexis: used to point location in time (now, then). i. e: “I’ll put this here, ok? ”

PERSON DEIXIS There are 3 categories: SPEAKER (I) ADDRESSEE (YOU) OTHERS (HE- SHE-IT- THEY) 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.

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 3 rd person form Communicates distance and nonfamiliarity. 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”

SPATIAL DEIXIS Forms used to point to LOCATION i. e: “Here” and “There” “Come” and “Go” PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTANCE When speakers mark how close or distant something is perceived to be. i. e: “That man over there” implies psychological distance. DEICTIC PROJECTION: when speakers act as if they are somewhere else. i. e: “I´m not here now. ” (telephone answering machine) Recording is a performance for a future audience in which I project my presence to be in the required location.

TEMPORAL DEIXIS Forms used to point to location in time. i. e: “now” - “then” In contrast to now, the distal expression then applies to both past and future time relative to the speaker’s present time. i. e: “I was in Scotland then” “I’ll see you then”

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.

Near speaker proximal terms ( this, here, now) Away from speaker distal terms (that, there, then)