deixis Definition
the use of words or phrases to refer to a specific person, object, or time in a discourse, relying on context and the shared knowledge of the speaker and listener for interpretation.
Using deixis: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "deixis" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In the sentence 'I will see you tomorrow,' the word 'you' is an example of deixis.
Example
Deictic expressions like 'this' and 'that' rely on context to convey meaning.
Example
Deixis is an important aspect of language that allows speakers to refer to things in the world around them.
deixis Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for deixis
Phrases with deixis
Example
In the sentence 'She is going to the store,' the word 'she' is an example of person deixis.
referring to objects or locations using deictic expressions such as 'this', 'that', 'here', 'there', etc.
Example
In the sentence 'Put this book on that shelf over there,' the words 'this', 'that', and 'there' are examples of spatial deixis.
referring to time using deictic expressions such as 'now', 'then', 'today', 'yesterday', etc.
Example
In the sentence 'I will see you tomorrow,' the word 'tomorrow' is an example of temporal deixis.
Summary: deixis in Brief
Deixis [ˈdaɪksɪs] is the use of words or phrases to refer to specific people, objects, or times in a discourse, relying on context and shared knowledge for interpretation. It is exemplified by deictic expressions like 'this' and 'that' and is an important aspect of language that allows speakers to refer to things in the world around them.
