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3.1 The conventional use of person deixis and its pragmatic functions 8
3.1.1 The first person deixis 8
3.1.2 The second person deixis 9
3.1.3 The third person deixis 10
3.2 The unconventional use of person deixis and its pragmatic functions 10
3.2.1 The first person deixis 11
3.2.2 The second person deixis 13
3.2.3 The third person deixis 15
3.2.4 Other unconventional uses 15
4. Conclusion 17
References 18
1. Introduction
Person deixis is used to refer to people who are involved in a communication. Typically exemplified by person pronouns, it also includes personal names, general terms, relative addressing terms as well as other forms. The use of person deixis could be classified into conventional and unconventional use. The conventional use of person deixis serves for indicating the participants of a conversation or an event and helps shape a clear and organized information exchange process. The unconventional use, instead, makes a variant use of person deixis by referring to other categories to realize certain pragmatic intentions.
Commencement is a ceremony at a university, college, or high school at which students formally receive their degrees or diplomas. A speech given on such an occasion is called a commencement address. This kind of addresses is usually well-prepared beforehand and serves two basic functions: instructive and persuasive. For instructive function, the addressers are supposed to share some inspiring stories of their own or others in which addressees could derive some philosophy of life or career to guide them in the forthcoming transformation. The persuasive function is performed by encouraging addressees to face the reality, take their responsibilities, develop good habits and so on. A good commencement address may advertently leave a lifelong impression on addressees.
The proper use of person deixis in a commencement address could strengthen its instructive and persuasive functions. Conventional use of person deixis help the audience to figure out the questions of about whom and to whom the addresser is talking, which makes his or her points understandable, whereas person deixis in unconventional use yields certain pragmatic effects and makes the points acceptable.
The choice of this research topic is based on the following three aspects:
First, person deixis not only serves as an indicator of addresser and addressee, but also has significant influence on the efficiency of interaction between them. The proper use of person deixis in proper context helps the addresser to gain recognition and approval of his or her audience and establishes relationship to achieve his or her aims, especially some unconventional use of the person deixis which could imply special intentions and hence attain expected effect. Therefore, the study on the unconventional use will be of practical significance.
Second, many of the previous studies on public speaking have focused on the political addresses like presidential inaugural addresses to explore how the addresser attempts to seek the recognition and approval of his or her audience with rare researches on commencement addresses and even fewer on person deixis in a commencement address. Besides, as a type of speech specially for graduates, an appealing and inspiring speech coupled with effective use of person deixis could have a profound impact on their short-term or long-term development. Thus, it is worthwhile to deliberate on the use of person deixis in delivering a commencement address.