Deixis

In semiotic analysis the term deixis can have two meanings:

Deixis designates one of the fundamental dimensions of the semiotic square: through a process of implication it links one of the contrary terms with the contradictory of the other contrary term. There are, therefore, two deixes.

Let us take the example of the semiotic square of 'existence':

SI (life) and —52 (non-death) constitute one deixis. This is termed the positive deixis. S2 (death) and —SI (non-life) constitute the second deixis, termed negative deixis. The terms positive and negative in this context are devoid of any axiological investment. This only appears as a result of the projection of the thymic category (euphoria versus dysphoria), that is, the category of feeling, onto the semiotic square.

 2. Deixis is also used in a narrative as deixis of reference. In this context, temporal positions (now/then) or spatial positions (here/there) can be described as deixes of reference. Thus, for example, what is sometimes described as the 'time of the narrative' appears as a present identifiable with a 'then' deixis in relation to which a past and a future can be installed. In Treasure Island the search for the gold could be the deixis of reference in relation to which the preparatory events as well as the later moment of preserving the adventures in writing could be viewed as past and future.

Related topics

Discourse

Diegesis

Dialogue

Diachrony

Descriptive

Denotation

Demonstrative reference

Decisive test

Debrayage/disengagement

Culture

Correlation

Contrary