Definition

A linguistic term that refers to words or phrases that indicate or point to something in a specific context, such as time, place, or person.

Example

In the sentence 'I will meet you here tomorrow', the words 'I', 'here', and 'tomorrow' are examples of deixis.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how deixis affects our conversations?

Yeah, it's interesting how words can change meaning based on context.

Exactly! Like when I say 'this' or 'that', it's all about the deixis involved.

Right! It can be confusing sometimes, but it also makes language so dynamic.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Deixis is derived from the Greek word "deixis" (meaning pointing or indicating). It refers to words and phrases that require contextual information to convey meaning, such as pronouns and demonstratives that point to specific entities in a conversation.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pointing' or 'indicating' when you hear deixis, as it relates to words that show or refer to something specific in context.

Visually Confused Words