Reflecting social status and relationships

Social deixis in Muhammad: The Last Prophet (2002)

Abstract

This study examines the use of social deixis in the film Muhammad: The Last Prophet (2002). The film remains relevant to contemporary contexts as it offers important lessons on how effective communication is constructed in society, particularly among individuals of diverse social statuses. Social deixis refers to the linguistic means by which social relationships and communicative contexts are reflected in language. The aim of this study is to identify the types of social deixis used in the film and to describe their functions. Adopting a descriptive qualitative approach, the data were collected from dialogues in the film and analyzed based on Fillmore’s (1975) theory of social deixis. The analysis focuses on five types of social deixis: person marking, speech level, honorifics (including names, titles, and kinship terms), social acts, and linguistic performance. The findings indicate that social deixis in the film is realized through various linguistic forms and is shaped by factors such as participants, social relationships, and the communicative context. Furthermore, the use of social deixis reflects differences in social status and relationships among the characters. In conclusion, social deixis plays an essential role in conveying social meaning and shaping interpersonal interactions within the film.