Deixis in English and Arabic A contrastive study

Abstract

In this article, the author will investigate the way of utilizing deictic
expressions for social relations as well as diplomacy, which are of great
importance to translators, teachers and diplomats. Recognizing the five
types of deixis and their implicaions and different connotations, the author
will show the similarities and differences between the two languages and
how they are used. The consequences of misunderstanding these differences
might lead to diplomatic conflict and complete failure of translating the
speaker’s intention from the source language to the target language which
may lead to world conflict. Thus the author will point out the semantic
features and pragmatic functions of personal, spatial and temporal deixis of
English, and Arabic pointing out similarities and differences. Thus the
writer points out their importance to language teaching which is of great
importance. However, the translation is not only for academic purposes but
for the international community at large.