Deixis: relative location encoded in demonstratives
| Values: | Prox | Remt |
Deixis is typically a feature of demonstrative determiners in Beja. Its value classifies the location of the referred entity with respect to the location of the speaker or of the hearer.
Remt: remote, distal
The entity is far away from the reference point (e.g., from the speaker).
Examples
- eːjam baliːb naːjd uːmeːk jʔiːhoːb̚ / “When the donkey comes to that water place”
Prox: Proximal
The entity is close to the reference point (e.g., to the speaker).
Examples
- eːn miːmaʃaːj geːbi hireːrijeːbu / “when I walk by these tombs”
Deixis in other languages: [aqz] [bej] [hy] [mpu] [qpm] [u]