语用学

Contrastive Study of the First Person Deixis in English and Chinese

Abstract: Person deixis concerns the encoding of the role of participants in the speech Event in which the utterance in question is delivered. And they are widely used in English and Chinese. This thesis through the contrastive study on the pragmatic function of the first person in English and Chinese, similarities and differences in the first person deixis use between the two language can be analyzed. Key words: person deixis, the first person deixis, pragmatic meaning, contrastive analysis

摘要: 人称指示是指说话者在言语活动中解码言语信息. 人称指示在英汉两种语言中都有着较高的使用频率.本文通过对英汉第一人称指示语的语用功能对比分析, 发掘英汉两种语言第一人称指示方面的异同点.

关键词: 人称指示语第一人称指示语语用意义英汉对比

1.Induction

Deixis are those words in a language that entirely depend on text(Fromkin et.al.1991). Deixis is the earliest research object of pragmatic, because it directly links to language structure and context. Therefore, people think deixis plays a crucial role in language expression and understanding. Traditionally, deixis were divided into three categories-referring to people, place and time. By the 1980‟s, two more categories had been added-discourse and social deixis (Levinson,1983). In addition to discourse deixis, the different types of deixis can express interpersonal meaning, and actualize a certain communicative function. Both time and place deixis can transfer deictic center to the addressee, which express the respect to the hearer. Social deixis attach great importance on the function of interpersonal meaning.

This thesis focuses on the social and Pragmatic meanings of English and Chinese deixis.Through the contrastive study on the Pragmatic functions of Person deixis in English and Chinese, similarities and differenees in the Person deixis use Between the two languages can be analyzed.

2.Person Deixis in English

Person deixis is an important component of pragmatics. With reference to the addresser, the addressee and the third party involved in a conversation, person deixis indicate the social status, interpersonal relationship and other factors of the conversation parties.

2.1 The first Person deixis

The first person is an item that is used to refer to the addresser of an utterance or the sender of the message. The first Person deictic items have both the singular and Plural forms, i.e.I and we, and eaeh form has variations in case, i.e.me vs. us for the objective case and my vs.our for the Possessive case.

2.1.1 The first Person singular form I

The first Person singular, which will be used in both formal and informal Linguistic styles, refers to the sender of a message. The reference of the first Person Singular is clear and specified.

Firstly, I is used to refer to the addresser himself/herself and to emphasize that the opinion expressed is the addresser‟s own opinion.Secondly, I is often used when one tells good and Pleasant news.Thirdly, when I is used with other person deietic items in one sentence，different positions of I will imply the addresser‟s different intentions. For example,

a. I and She do the same wrong.

b.She and I have got the teac her‟s praise.

In the first sentence, it shows the addresser intends to bear the consequences of the mistake made by both, However, in the second sentence, I put at a secondary position to show the modesty of the addresser while when it comes to honor.

Another example:

a.I do not believe Mr. John will do such thing.

b.I am glad to hear that you pass do it by yourself.

In a, I expresses the addresser‟ own opini on according to his konwledge about Mr.