ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-133-035 · ATLAS 260

Logophoricity

A grammatical marker indicating a person whose speech, thoughts, or perspective is used to convey embedded content.

Part of the subject path Pragmatics and Conversation

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

A · Analytical concept R1 · Distinct contribution to understanding

Logophoricity contributes a grammatical account of whose perspective governs reported content. Reference to a discourse source distinguishes it from ordinary anaphoric linkage based only on structural proximity.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

Logophoricity comprises grammatical means that indicate whose speech, thought, perception, or perspective frames embedded content. In some languages special pronouns mark coreference with the person whose words or consciousness are reported; elsewhere reflexives or verb forms show logophoric sensitivity. The crucial factor is not mere syntactic proximity but a perspectival centre in discourse. The conceptual movement identifies the source of represented consciousness, follows grammatical marking, and tests when a referent may be interpreted inside or outside that perspectival domain.

Movement of thought

1. First identify whose speech, thought, perception, or attitude is being represented. 2. Pronouns, reflexives, and verbal forms are examined for special perspectival marking. 3. Possible antecedents are compared by discourse role rather than syntactic proximity alone. 4. Changes in reported person or clause type test the limits of the logophoric domain. 5. The analysis separates grammatical logophoricity from inferred perspective in general.

Scientific use case

Typology, syntax, semantics, and narratology investigate logophoric systems through reference judgements, corpora, and report contrasts. Cross-linguistic work must distinguish morphological marking from contextual perspectivisation alone.

Example

In a reported-thought passage, a special pronoun can refer only to the person whose reflection is represented, not to a closer competing referent. The discourse source controls reference.

Counterexample

A pronoun's reference to the speaker of a preceding sentence does not alone establish logophoricity. A systematic contrast is needed in which grammatical forms or binding possibilities depend on the perspectival centre.

Distinction

Distinguish logophoricity from grammatical person, ordinary coreference, free indirect discourse, and empathy perspective. It is systematic reference to a centre of speech or consciousness, often involving dedicated form contrasts.

Effect on thought and perception

Logophoricity keeps visible whose consciousness frames content in complex reports. It supports reference resolution and organises multiple voices or perspectives grammatically against one another.

Resonance

Another voice remains present as an orientation point inside the embedded sentence. Pronouns and forms align with it, allowing perspective to reverberate as a grammatical trace.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Logophoricity“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-133-035. ATLAS 260, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-133-035

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-133-035

The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.

Historical background

Clements’s 1975 Ewe study describes a pronoun identifying the person whose speech, thoughts, or feelings are reported. It is morphologically distinct from ordinary personal and reflexive forms. A footnote attributes the term to Hagège 1974, an indirect reference here. The original pages document an early English-language analysis, not a universal system or the German term’s first use.

How conceptual history changes the analysis

Separate the reporter from the perspective holder; a pronoun in reported speech is not automatically a logophoric form.

References for the historical section

  • HC-C-CLEMENTS · §1 printed141–142, PDF1–2 (1-based), including footnote1
Historical source evidence and Atlas applications remain separate; this import does not assert new first attestations or a fresh exhaustive source verification.