Chapter 3. The functional nature of deictic verbs and the coding patterns of Deixis

This chapter examines the nature of linguistic expressions of Deixis, which is often coded somewhat differently from other components of Path. It is argued that deictic verbs like come are not merely spatial in meaning but also functional. Results of a video-based experiment in English, Japanese, and Thai are reported. These revealed that venitive verbs tend to be used more often when the motion is not just toward the speaker but also into his/her space as defined by limits on interaction and visibility, and that they can be used for motion off the direction of the speaker if it is into the speaker’s functional space. Directional venitive PPs like toward me do not clearly have such properties. The functional nature of deictic verbs can account for the distinct coding patterns of Deixis among different Path components.

• Affiliations: 1: Kobe University; 2: Nagoya University; 3: Kanda University of International Studies