Demonstrative Degree Modifiers Discourse

Rizky Maisyarah
63712011
rizkymaisarah@gmail.com
English Department, Faculty of Letters, Indonesia Computer University
Abstract
The main purpose of this paper is to explore how we can identify the
demonstrative degree modifiers as one of demonstrative types. As we will see,
the demonstrative itself have three types: one of them is modifier, and in this
discourse, the degree modifiers is being a huge theme. We use complex
demonstrative and direct reference from Kaplan as a grand theory as an approach
theory. Demonstrative noun phrases (e.g. this; that guy over there) are intimately
connected to the context of use in that their reference is determined by
demonstrations and/or the speakers intentions.
Keywords: Demonstrative, Degree Modifiers, Kaplans Theory.

Introduction
Demonstrative is a determiner which is used deictically to indicate
referents spatial, temporal, or discourse location. A demonstrative function as a
modifier of a noun or as a pronoun. If we talking about demonstrative pronoun, it
is comprising a varied class of closed-class words with nominal funtion or we
mean noun-like. If we talking about demonstrative reference, it is a form of
verbal pointing, that the speaker identifies the referrent by locating it on a scale of
proximity (Halliday, 1976). Many linguists have worked on the demonstrative
reference analysis discourse (e.g., Walter, 2009; Gundel et al., 2006; Diessel,
2006). This research studies the demonstrative degree modifiers as one of the
demonstrative type. It is argued that demonstrative degree modifiers are adjective
phrase which is contain this and that (1).
(1) a. I dont believe that Joanna is that tall!
b. Youre this tall already!

(2) a. These are John and George.

b. That is a big garden.
(3) a. And after the time those little birds died.
b. That girl is the my friend.
The examples in (1) are called demonstrative degree modifiers (Wolter,
2009), the examples in (2) are called demonstrative pronoun, and in the examples
(3) called demonstrative reference. It is important to be able to distinguish them
all first before we join the discourse. We too have to distinguish the differences
between demonstrative and indexical, that demonstrative is those which require a
demonstration/pointing and having that' as their paradigm; and the indexical is
those which do not require a demonstration which is linguistic rules fully
determine their referent in each context (Kaplan, 1977). They have been argued to
refer both speaker intention and as a speaker demonstration. In the other hand,
demonstrative, as pronouns, has three sense: (a) it may substitute for phrase, (b) it
may indicate that reference is being made to something which is given or known
within the linguistic or situational context, (c) it may stand for general concept
(Randolph et al, 1985). And, especially for that, that is also known as relative
pronoun which is nonretsrictive and both for personal or nonpersonal.
The purpose of the following research will be adressed as how can we
identify demonstrative degree modifiers identify in sentence and distinguish it
between the other demonstrative also to suggest some potential new research with
demonstrative. However, not all the proper name have the
reference. So it is important to us to explore the demonstrative
as one of references in the cohesion devices.
Data Source
The data source is secondary data which is used for this research is derived
from Kaplans theory about demonstrative (direct reference), also from Halliday
about Demonstrative Reference (1976), Walter (2009), Randolph et al (1985),
Gundel et al (2006) and Diessel (2006). And the case itself is served by some
sentences from Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet and A Sign of Four.
From the previous work on Wolters paper (2009) about demonstrative in
philosophy and linguistics, we can explore more about the demonstrative degree
modifiers. Demonstratives thus provide a fruitful topic for graduate study for two
reasons. On the one hand, they serve as an entry point to foundational issues in
reference and the semanticspragmatics interface. On the other hand, they are an
especially promising starting point for interdisciplinary research, which brings the
results of linguistics and related fields to bear on the philosophy of language.
Building on the proposals outlined above, a series of studies by Gundel, Borthen
and Fretheim 1999, Hegarty, Gundel and Borthen 2002, and Gundel, Hegarty and
Borthen 2003 further explored the use of demonstratives vs. personal pronouns in
referring to entities evoked by constituents other than an NP/DP and the semantic,

syntactic, and information structural properties that contribute to bringing such

entities into focus of attention, thus making them accessible to reference with it.
Research Method
This article is used the qualitative approaches by analysing one by one of
sentence that contains that and then it is distinguish as demonstrative
pronoun/reference and is it the demonstrative degree modifiers. The questions
research itself are: (1) is it true that the pola of demonstrative being demonstrative
degree modifier, especially that, is that + adjective or that + prepositional phrase?
and (2) could the pola is that + np and in what condition?
Theoritical Review
The demonstrative this, that, these and those exactly match the form of the
four demonstrative determiners. In this section we will try to distinguish the
difference between the demonstrative modifier, relative pronoun and
demonstrative degree modifier (we use that for the analysis):
1. Thats a strange thing, remarked my companion; you are the second
man to-day that has used that expression to me.
That in the first clause identified as demonstrative pronoun, it is
pointing something, in this case, a strange thing (and it is a NP),
same with the third that. But in the second, that is used as a relative
pronoun.
2. ... It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can
distend to any extent...
First that is identified as relative pronoun and the second is pointing
verbal: as the demonstrative pronoun.
3. The Standard commented upon the fact that lawless outrages of the
sort usually occurred under a Liberal Administration.
The that in sentence above is identified as relative pronoun.
4. that that fool Lestrade, who thinks himself so smart, has gone off
upon the wrong track altogether. He is after the secretary Stangerson,
who had no more to do with the crime than the babe unborn. I have no
doubt that he has caught him by this time.
The first that is indicate a noun phrase, or in this case, be a direct
reference, and the second that is demonstrative pronoun. The third that
is a relative pronoun.
5. Well, I went to Underwood, and asked him if he had sold a hat of that
size and description.

That in sentence above is demonstrative pronound that refer to

something which is having same size and description.
6. ... He has the power of observation and that of deduction. He is only
wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time. He is now
translating my small works into French.
The first that is demonstrative degree modifier, and the second is
relative pronoun also substitute the subject (or noun phrase) in this
case.
7. I dont know what he would say if I brought you in that sudden way.
That here is identified as demonstrative degree modifier.
8. ...But for that one trace, we might have thought that our imaginations
had conjured up that wild, fierce face.
That in sentence above is identified as demonstrative degree modifiers.
From some analysis above, it is can be pointed that if after that is verb (or
that is having function as a subject), then that is relative pronoun. Not only before
verb, but also if that appears before noun phrase then verb (which is the noun
phrase is having function as subject and the verb itself as predicate) as we can see
in the example number 1 to 5. So, when it distinguishes as demonstrative degree
modifier? It distinguishes when that modify something, as we can see from
example number 6 to 8. The first in 6, that appears before prepositional phrase
modify the prepositional phrase to be a noun phrase which is semantically it
suggested has meaning: such a deduction. In the 7 and 8, that is being a
determiner, modify the whole noun phrase.
Result and Discussion
Then, we look again, is the analysis answering the questions? The
questions research itself are: (1) is it true that the pola of demonstrative being
demonstrative degree modifier, especially that, is that + adjective or that +
prepositional phrase? and (2) could the pola is that + np and in what condition?
From the analysis, it is can conclude that the demonstrative that be a
demonstrative degree modifier if it modify noun (it has function like adjective) or
prepositional phrase to be a noun, and the answer of second question is yes. For
the first question, especially is that + adjective, it have summoned in our very first
example, as we know, that tall, then semantically that is modify the tall to be an
adjective phrase (or that here is being determiner to that tall).
The further discussion maybe can be investigated in pragmatics research
or semantics research and this is the puzzle that will lead to a new breakthrough
in philosophical research on the interpretation of demonstratives.
.
Conclusion

In some of the ambiguous cases, the referent of the demonstrative pronoun

is present in the extralinguistic context. Gundel et al.s analysis, and saliencebased pragmatic theories more generally, contribute new data about the
distribution of demonstratives and other referring expressions. For example,
Gundel et al. observe that anaphoric demonstratives with this require the
antecedent to have been mentioned by the same speaker.
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