Studies in African Linguistics (Apr 1987)

Discourse disctance and the swahili demonstratives

  • Timothy Wilt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.32473/sal.v18i1.107482
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1

Abstract

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Proximity is the key concept for understanding a speaker's choice of Swahili demonstrative forms. The alternative approach in Leonard [1985] that proposes a speaker's concentration of attention as the key concept overlooks significant aspects of text structure. Proximity must not be conceived of, as does Leonard, only in terms of spatial distance between the speaker and a referent. Temporal, narrative, and anaphoric distance must also be considered.

Keywords