Deixis and Distance

Deixis is a term that refers to pointing via language.

• True

• False

Any linguistic form used to accomplish pointing is called a deictic expression.

3

• True

• False

Deictic expressions are only used by adults.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False - Deictic expressions are among the first forms to be spoken by very young children.

Person deixis is used to indicate location.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False - Person deixis is used to indicate people.

Spatial deixis is used to indicate time.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False - Temporal deixis is used to indicate time.

Deictic expressions depend on the speaker and hearer sharing the same context.

• True

• False

Deictic expressions are most commonly used in written communication.

• True

• False

Utterances using deictic expressions are easily understood by people who are not present.

• True

• False

Deictic expressions are not used by young children.

• True

• False

Deictic expressions are also called indexicals.

• True

• False