Anadeixis and the signalling of discourse structure

Abstract

By “anadeixis” (a termed first coined by Ehlich, 1982) is meant, prototypically, the indexical functioning of certain context-bound expressions to target discourse entities which are either not yet topical, or whose erstwhile topical status has faded. It is the discourse-structuring function of anadeictic indexicals that will be the particular focus of this study. The basis for the discussion will be two short whole texts, in two languages (French and English). This will make it possible to show how certain ‘strict’-anadeictic and discourse-deictic references may signal the macro- (content structures) and super-structures (discourse-functional structures) that characterize them. Such references may serve either to foreshadow a transition between major discourse units within a given text, or to actually introduce one.