The word "more deictic" is spelled as /mɔːr ˈdaɪktɪk/. The first sound represented by the symbol /m/ is a bilabial nasal consonant, while the vowel sound represented by /ɔː/ is a mid-open vowel. The consonant sound /r/ is pronounced as a voiced alveolar approximant, followed by the sound /d/ which is a voiced dental plosive. The second vowel sound /aɪ/ is a diphthong consisting of a mid-open front unrounded vowel and a close front unrounded vowel. Finally, the last consonant sound represented by /k/ is a voiceless velar plosive.
More deictic refers to something that is characterized by a higher level of deictic qualities or features. The term deictic originates from the Greek word deiktikos, which means "showing" or "pointing out." Deictic expressions or elements are used in language to point to or refer to specific persons, objects, locations, or time periods within the context of a discourse, relying on the speaker's or listener's spatial or temporal orientations.
When something is described as more deictic, it means that it possesses a greater degree or intensity of these pointing or referring qualities. This can manifest in various ways, such as an increased reliance on demonstratives (like "this," "that," "here," "there"), adverbs of place or time (such as "now," "then," "here," "there"), or personal pronouns that depend on the context for their meaning (such as "I," "you," "he," "she," "it").
For example, a sentence like "I need this document right here" contains several more deictic elements. The use of the pronoun "I" and the noun "document" already establish references to specific entities, but the inclusion of the demonstrative "this" and the adverb "right here" further emphasize the precise identification and localization of the document in question.
In summary, something described as more deictic exhibits a higher level or intensity of language features that point to or refer to specific entities, locations, or time periods within a given context.
The term "more deictic" does not have a specific etymology as it is a combination of two separate words: "more" and "deictic".
- "More" comes from the Old English word "māra", which means "greater" or "additional". This word eventually evolved into the Middle English term "more" with the same meaning. It has been carried forward into Modern English, where it serves as both a comparative adjective and an adverb.
- "Deictic" originates from the Greek word "deiktikos", meaning "showing" or "pointing out". It entered the English language from the Greek term "deiknynai", which means "show" or "point out".
When combined, "more deictic" suggests something that is even more indicative or pointing out more strongly than other deictic elements.