Social Deixis and Power Relations in Batacan’s Smaller and Smaller Circles

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to identify social deixis found in the novel, Smaller and Smaller Circles, written by F.H. Batacan, and to discuss how power relations are reflected in the identified social deixis. Data were computed using mean and percentages while content analysis was utilized in interpreting the social deixis found. Moreover, Brown and Levinson’s (1983) honorific axes namely addressee, bystander, referent, and setting were used as a model in classifying the social deixes, which were then classified into religious titles, formal honorifics, occupational titles, kinship terms, and other social address forms. Li’s (2015) concept of rhetorical authority and the sources of legitimacy such as bureaucratic authority, charismatic authority, professional authority, and traditional moral authority were used as models in discussing how power relations are reflected in the social deixis identified. The researchers selected an award-winning Philippine novel which was read closely to identify, analyze, and interpret the social deixis found in it. Results of the study show twenty-nine social deixis used by the characters in the novel. The most dominant among them are a father (religious title), Sir (formal honorifics), director (occupational title), mama/ma (kinship term), and manang (other relational address). Further, these social deixes are used as addressee, bystander, referent, and setting honorifics. Moreover, they reflect power relations.These results show that the use of appropriate social deixis may be influenced not only by the social status of the participants in a communication act but by the situation or context of communication.