Deixis as a Discourse Marker in Informal Conversations

Abstract

The study of deictic expression is important in language because the absence of deictic information invariably affects interpretation in an utterance. Words are deictic, if their semantic meaning is fixed, but their denotation meaning varies; depending on time and/ or place. For effective communication to take place in deictic usage, the major types of deixis - person, time and place- must be considered. The study employs a qualitative methodology in analyzing these major deictic elements in selected informal conversations (talk), examining their linguistic functions as discourse markers and information codes that facilitate effective communication in informal contexts. The findings support the fact that the use of deictic elements are paramount in personalized communications, which cut across every area of human interaction.