What is a deictic center?

Definition
	A deictic center is a reference point in relation to which a deictic expression is to be interpreted.

Discussion
	The deictic center is most typically the present time, location, participant role, and so forth of the speaker.

Examples (English)
	In the following example, the speaker, the actual location and the actual time of the utterance are, respectively, the deictic centers for the interpretation of I, here, and now: I’m over here now.

Sources
	Fillmore 1975 83–85
	Denny 1978 73

Context for this page:

Concept module: deictic center
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): D
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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