Pointing Signal
Demonstrative
Deixis
Deictic adverb
Are we pointing to this, that, here, or there?
core
basic
Information structure
Maana
A signal that locates something relative to speaker, listener, place, time, discourse, or attention.
Jinsi ya kuitambua
Look for this/that/here/there/now/then type pointing words.
Mifano
Maneno
this|that|these|those|here|there|now|then
Virai
this book|that one|over here|at that time
Sentensi
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
Mtazamo wa lugha
Katika lugha yako
Hindi (standard)
Uwepo
strong
Umuhimu
Pointing uses यह/वह, इस/उस, यहाँ/वहाँ and related proximal/distal forms.
यह मेरा घर है।
This my house is.
Katika lugha unayojifunza
Indonesian (standard)
Uwepo
strong
Ugumu
Pointing uses ini/itu and place words sini, situ, sana.
Ini rumah saya.
This house my.
Changamoto ya kawaida kwa wanaojifunza
Learners may confuse itu and sana or overuse demonstratives.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.