Social deixis

Social deixis is a category that indicates the social characteristics of, or distinctions between, the participants or referents in a speech event.

Natural language

In the UNLarium framework, social deixis may assume the following values:

{{#tree:id=nl_SOL|openlevels=0|root=Social Deixis (SOD)|

• • solidarity (SOL): like-mindedness or similarity of behavioral disposition between a speaker and addressee
    • familiarity (FAM): high degree of solidarity
    • intimate social deixis (ITM): very high degree of solidarity
    • politeness (PLN): low degree of solidarity
  • status (STS): scale of social standing that is often realized in differing socially deictic linguistic forms
    • equivalent (EVL): equality of status
    • inferior status (IFS): low degree of status
    • reverential form (REV): very high status
    • superior status (SPS): high status

}}

Examples

• French
  • tu = FAM, vous = PLN

UNL

In UNL, the attribute social deixis may assume the following values:

{{#tree:id=unl_SOL|openlevels=0|root=Social Deixis|

• @familiar
• @intimate
• @polite
• @equivalent
• @inferior
• @superior
• @reverential

}}

Examples

• English letter closings
  • Yours faithfully = closing.@polite
  • Best wishes = closing.@familiar
  • Love always = closing.@intimate