Content Details | NUML Online Research Repository

Title THE DEICTIC SYSTEMS OF PAHARI AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE: A PRAGMATIC STUDY

Author(s) Zonash Tahir

Abstract The present study explores the deictic systems of the Pahari and English language, one of the most prominent features of any language. Deixis involving expressions like, ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘here’ and ‘now’ is essential in anchoring language to context. The researcher tried to unveil the pragmatic use of deixis in the Pahari language; a language spoken in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir by using the Levinson model of deixis. Data was collected using convenience sampling and the analysis reveals that while both languages share common deictic categories, Pahari exhibits greater contextual flexibility particularly in person and social deixis. In contrast English follows a more standardized pattern governs by formal grammar rule. The usage of pronouns is quite different in the Pahari language as compare to the English language. The first-person singular pronoun refers to the singular referent and the first-person plural pronoun refers to the plural referents deictically. However, sometimes first-person plural pronouns are used by the singular referent to refer to the overall professions to show harmony. The Pahari language has a complex second-person pronoun system compared t/ m, o English. It uses two forms: tu and tus, with tus used to address plural referents and tu for singular referents. The plural form is more polite and honorific, while the verb helps in gender distinction. Third-person pronouns do not indicate gender but are used as demonstratives and spatial deixis. Honorifics and honorific terms indicate social status and politeness. Polite forms and honorific terms are used to show respect and politeness. Temporal deixis helps in understanding time, with most prayer names indicating the time of the day. Demonstratives also play a role in discourse deixis. This study lays the groundwork for further linguistic and crosscultural research in multilingual settings

Type Thesis/Dissertation

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2025-07-28

Subject

Publisher

Contributor(s)

Format

Identifier

Source

Relation

Coverage

Rights