Topic 8 - Discourse structure and point of view > Linguistic indicators of point of view > Task E

Linguistic indicators of point of view

Task E - Social Deixis

As we pointed out in our discussion of different kinds of point of view, once we have established the idea of spatial and temporal viewpoint we can extend the viewpoint idea analogically into other areas, like 'social deixis'. The varying ways in which we can refer to others express, among other things, the idea of closer or more remote social relations. If you refer to Mick Short as 'Professor Short' (title + last name) you are expressing a much more distant and respectful relation than if you refer to him as 'Mick' (first name only) and this seems rather like the proximal/distal area applied to social relations.

With that in mind, consider the following extract, which comes from the beginning of a novel.

(i) What are the narrator's social relations with the various characters who are introduced, and what role does the manner in which they are referred to play in this? We have highlighted the names of the characters, and you can click on them to compare what you think with our comments.

(ii) Think also, as you build up this specification of what is effectively a web of relationships, how this text positions you, the reader? How do you fit into the social system? You can compare your thoughts with ours by clicking on the question we have asked immediately after the quotation.

What social position must the reader take on while this text is being read?

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