Proximal and distal terms in Persian interactions: an integrative approach

Abstract

This study examines the use of proximal and distal deictic terms in Persian interactions to determine the cause of their paradoxical behavior in certain contexts of situations. It adopts an integrative (i.e., cognitive-interactive) approach to investigate both interactional and (inter)subjective aspects of deictic practice. The analysis of 184 different Persian interactions reveals that although the relative congruity and egocentricity can account for many canonical uses of proximal and distal terms, such an egocentric approach cannot handle the paradoxical uses of such deictic terms. We then propose that based on the ongoing interaction, any deictic act is governed by three main interactional factors, namely the focus of interaction, the information status of the object of reference (e.g. the speaker's mind, the addressee's consciousness, and the unfolding discourse), and the speaker's attitude towards the referent. In addition, it is argued that interactional factors themselves are regulated by the speaker's (inter)subjective thought/belief state. This indicates that interaction and (inter)subjectivity – as key concepts – satisfactorily explain paradoxical uses of proximal and distal terms in Persian.