Definition & Meaning of "person deixis"

What is "person deixis"?

Person deixis is a type of deixis that involves words that indicate the participants in a conversation, typically through pronouns. It focuses on the roles of the speaker, listener, and others mentioned in the discourse. For example, in the sentence "I will help you," "I" refers to the speaker, and "you" refers to the listener. Person deixis helps clarify who is being talked about and can change based on who is speaking or being addressed. It plays a crucial role in establishing relationships and interactions between individuals in communication, ensuring that roles are clearly defined.