The Finnish demonstrative pronouns in light of interaction

In this paper, it will be suggested that the Finnish demonstratives are primarily used to express the role of interpreting the referent in relation to the activity of the on-going turn. These pronouns also simultaneously actively organize the ground and take part in construing the referent. This Study analyzes the demonstratives by using two dimensions of meaning: referential and indexical. It is argued that the Finnish demonstrative tama expresses referential openness and indexical asymmetry, the demonstrative tuo expresses referential openness and implies indexical symmetry, whereas the demonstrative se implies adequate knownness of the referent and indexical symmetry. In addition, it is suggested that the Finnish demonstratives may organize the spatial ground when used for referring to places. Furthermore, the pronouns have the discourse functions of presenting, pointing, and referring, and it is proposed that these functions are a consequence of the referential and indexical meanings conveyed by the demonstratives. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.