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indexical

Pronunciation: [ɪnˈdɛksɪkəl]

Word

Learn how to use indexical in a sentence: 6 audio examples across 2 meanings.

Context: “language”

(adjective) Indexical words are words that refer to things in a specific context. They change their meaning based on who is speaking or when and where it is said. For example, the word 'I' refers to the person speaking. If I say 'I am here,' 'I' refers to me, but if someone else says it, 'I' refers to them.

Example

When I say 'I will go to the store,' the word 'I' refers to me.

Example

In the sentence 'He is my friend,' the word 'he' is not indexical because it refers to someone specific.

Example

Can you explain why 'you' in 'You are invited' is indexical?

Context: “linguistics”

(noun) An indexical is a word or expression that points to something based on the situation. It tells you who or what is being talked about depending on who is speaking. For example, the word 'here' points to the place where the speaker is.

Example

Words like 'now' and 'today' are indexicals because they depend on when you say them.

Example

The word 'cat' is not an indexical because it doesn't change meaning based on who is talking.

Example

What are some examples of indexicals you can think of?

How to pronounce indexical

Pronunciation: [ɪnˈdɛksɪkəl]

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