Pointing Signal
Are we pointing to this, that, here, or there?
Meaning
A signal that locates something relative to speaker, listener, place, time, discourse, or attention.
How to spot it
Look for this/that/here/there/now/then type pointing words.
Examples
this|that|these|those|here|there|now|then
this book|that one|over here|at that time
This is my favorite place.
Visual guide
Pointing from here/now speaker center: here, now near speaker: this away: that, there other time: then Use: this book, over here
Comparison shape 2-way: this = near that = away 3-way: near speaker near listener far from both Also: here/there, now/then
Language View
In your native language
English uses this/that, here/there, now/then, and related words to point from the speaker's perspective.
This is my seat, and that is yours.
this/that = pointing signal
In your learning language
Spanish uses demonstratives and deictic adverbs with a useful near/mid/far distinction.
este, ese, aquel; aquí, ahí, allí
this, that, that over there; here, there, over there
Learners may simplify all distance relations to este/ese and ignore aquel/allí.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.