Cai’s Blog

Deixis or Deictics is a term used in linguistics that refers to a specific time; place, person or thing within a

text, withouth actually using the noun. We typically use deictics in speech because we rely on context in natural conversation.

An example:

Come here and look at this mess.

Go over there and look at that mess.

As see can see we have two very different situations. The first is where the mess is close to the speaker. The second is where the speaker is further away. It is worth noting however that in both situations the mess is still in sight.

Deictics are also used to describe the ways in which a text links the world of the narrative with that of the reader. For example, in poetry, deictics can be used to imply that the reader takes part in or watches a scene or events alongside the poet, as in this extract:

Say what you will, there is not in the world

A nobbler sight than from this upper down,

No rugged landscapes here…

In plays or prose, as well as within poetry, deictics or deictic expressions help to create and sustain the world of the play or narritive by refferring to places, people, times and events that have occured within it. Equally a further important function of deictics is to extend the world of the play or narrative to places, times, people and things we have not seen, rather than confining us to the world created by the text in front of us.

The four demonstrative deteriminers and pronouns are the prime deictics, this and these are POINTING to

what is here and now, while that and those point to there or then.

Other words commonly included in this category are here and there, now and then, today, yesterday and tomorrow, and the personal pronouns (I,we,you,us,they,etc.) Tense is also a deictic category.

In pragmatics and linguistics, deixis is a process whereby words or expressions rely absolutely on context. The origo is the context from which the reference is made - in other words, the viewpoint that must be understood in order to interpret the utterance.  For example if Dick is speaking with Harry and he says “I”, he refers to himself, but if he is listening to Harry and he says “I” the origo is then with him and the reference is to himself.) A word that is dependant on deictic clues is called a deictic or a deictic word.

Deictics are in contrast to proper nouns and definitive descriptions, that refer to real objects and states of affairs independant of their context, deixis denotes other linguistic signs in a given text, or extralinguistic elements in a given speech situation.

Deixis is all about context.

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The latest challenge that I’ve been set is to explore the stream of consciousness form of writing.

Stream of consciousness ( SOC ) is a literary technique in the form of a narrative mode. It’s been around a while and is generally attributed to May Sinclair. It is worth noting that the term ( SOC ) has crossed over from the realms of psychology.  The first author which pops into mind when I think of this technique is Salman Rushdie although he doesn’t over use this technique I’ve noticed him using it in ‘Midnight Children.’

Now unfortunately for me, I’m not a talented writer. I don’t have a natural gift to just pick up new techniques, this meant that my first attempt at this was an abysmal failure. In defiance of my lecturer I’ve decided to research this and try and make a really good go of this.

I can simple say to you that I’m approaching this piece by writing down all the internal vocalisations that the character is having. What do I mean by internal vocalisations you ask? Well it’s merely the little voice you get in your head when you think. ( Well at least I get one ) I’m sure there is more to this however this seems like a good starting place.

And now without much adue my first second attempt at the stream of consciousness.

No one knows

Oh god… Why do I do this to myself? Bleergh! Not again. I feel so weak. What did I dri- Bleergh! Oh my god, my head hurts. I can’t feel my face. Hnngh Hnngh Hnnnn-Blergh! I’m shaking. At there’s nothing left in me. Hnn-ack ack! I’ve gotta get up. The floor is moving… Shit my knee! Oh no… I’ve gotta get up. I can’t stay here. Hnnngh… What was his name again? It’s not good being stuck to the toilet. Hnngh… The floor is cold. It’s chilling. My hands, my knees, my face my breasts. It’s all grey. Why is it all grey? It’s freezing. Who is he?! I’ve gotta get up. I don’t get it. I didn’t drink that much last night. Shit… I cant remember his name. Is he still in the house?

….

Christopher Nemo watched his latest victim from a distance. It was a sick voyeuristic pleasure that he took viewing, like a cheap stripper, Jen stumbling around the bathroom naked and otherwise incapacitated. Nemo was a predator a nasty piece of work to say the least. Normally he hunted the girls… Last night however was a treat, Jennifer Forlorne came to him. The bar she walked into was well known, her clothes, respectable and above all her demeanour friendly . All the things you’d expect from a young London bank clerk on a night out.

Jennifer spotted Nemo from across the bar. At first… A wink then a ‘come hither.’ One word ‘Hello’ turned into many utterances. Many utterances led to one drink. One drink turned into many… and when the fine young lady pops to the loo… Ro-hyp-nol. Nemo’s little white friend rears his ugly head once again. Jen and Chris go back to her place and make sweet, sweet love.

Nemo gets a free place to stay, a woman to stay with and anything he can lay his hands on and get away with. She gets sex she didn’t want, her things stolen, a hangover that won’t go away anytime soon and a damn dirty feeling

Too bad… you lose.

This brings us back to this pretty little scene. Nemo does this for a living and takes great satisfaction in his work.

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