Deixis

Deixis is a big word for when we use words like "this," "here," "there," "him," and "I" to talk about things or people that are not present with us. It's like when you point your finger and say "look at that bird" or when you say "I am going to the store" even though you are not physically there yet.

Sometimes these words can be confusing because they depend on who is speaking, when, and where. For example, if you say "this cookie is delicious," someone might ask, "which cookie?" because they don't know which cookie you are talking about. But if you say, "this cookie in my hand is delicious," they will understand exactly which cookie you mean.

Deixis is important because it helps us communicate better, even when we are not in the same place or time. By using these special words, we can point out exactly what we are talking about and make sure that others understand us clearly.