Common Ground in Demonstrative Reference: The Case of Mano (Mande)

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Cognitive Science
• Anthropology

Background:

• Demonstratives commonly exhibit endophoric functions, referencing cognitively accessible entities, often considered secondary to spatial deixis.
• Existing classifications often separate endophoric and exophoric demonstrative functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the traditional classification of demonstrative reference into exophoric and endophoric categories.
• To demonstrate that cognitive access to referents functions alongside perceptual access.
• To highlight the social and interactive nature of demonstrative reference.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of first-hand data from the Mano language, a Mande language spoken in Guinea.
• Examination of how prior interactions and familiarity facilitate reference through shared knowledge (common ground).
• Investigation of non-spatial parameters influencing demonstrative choice and paradigm structure.

Main Results:

• Cognitive access to referents is shown to operate concurrently with perceptual access, including vision.
• The centrality of common ground in referential processes challenges the strict dichotomy of exophoric and endophoric reference.
• Mano data reveals the significance of interactional history and cultural knowledge in demonstrative usage.

Conclusions:

• Demonstrative reference is fundamentally a social and interactive process.
• Non-spatial factors, such as shared history and cultural knowledge, are crucial for understanding demonstrative systems.
• The study advocates for a more integrated view of demonstrative functions, moving beyond traditional classifications.