Pointing Signal
Demonstrative
Deixis
Deictic adverb
Are we pointing to this, that, here, or there?
core
basic
Information structure
Signification
A signal that locates something relative to speaker, listener, place, time, discourse, or attention.
Comment le repérer
Look for this/that/here/there/now/then type pointing words.
Exemples
Mots
this|that|these|those|here|there|now|then
Expressions
this book|that one|over here|at that time
Phrase
This is my favorite place.
Visual guide
Basic shape
Pointing from here/now speaker center: here, now near speaker: this away: that, there other time: then Use: this book, over here
Compare shape
Comparison shape 2-way: this = near that = away 3-way: near speaker near listener far from both Also: here/there, now/then
Vue par langue
Dans votre langue
French (standard)
Présence
strong
Importance
Pointers use ce/cet/cette/ces, ceci/cela/ça, ici, là, and discourse reference.
C’est mon endroit préféré.
This is my favorite place.
Dans la langue d’apprentissage
Hindi (standard)
Présence
strong
Difficulté
Pointing uses यह/वह, इस/उस, यहाँ/वहाँ and related proximal/distal forms.
यह मेरा घर है।
This my house is.
Difficulté fréquente
Learners may confuse direct and oblique demonstrative forms.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.