Deixis in Arabic and English: A Contrastive Approach

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.