Indexicality

Indexicality is a tricky concept, so let's make it super simple! An index is like a sign pointing you towards something. In language, it can point us towards an example or an idea. For example, if you say, "It's raining outside," your words are 'indexing' (pointing) to something, in this case the weather outside. This is indexicality: the way that words can point us to things.