How Do You Spell EXOPHORIC?

1. Exophoric is an adjective used to describe a reference or connection between a word or phrase and something external to the text or discourse in which it appears. This external reference can be located in the real world, the immediate context, or the shared knowledge between the speaker and the listener. In linguistics and semiotics, exophoric references are contrasted with endophoric references, which are references that are self-contained within the text or discourse.

   The term "exophoric" is commonly employed in the analysis of pronouns, proverbs, and certain types of definite noun phrases, as well as in the investigation of deixis, which refers to words or phrases that require contextual elements to be fully understood. Exophoric references often require the reader or listener to look beyond the textual or discourse boundaries to grasp their intended meaning.

   For example, in the sentence "She is waiting for him outside," the pronoun "she" is exophoric because it depends on the external context to determine the identity of the person being referred to. Similarly, an exophoric reference can be found in the sentence "Remember when we visited that famous monument?" where the definite noun phrase "that famous monument" needs external knowledge to determine which specific monument is being referred to.

   In conclusion, exophoric refers to a reference that goes beyond the text or discourse itself, requiring the reader or listener to rely on external factors to fully comprehend its intended meaning.

2. Relating to exophoria.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for EXOPHORIC

The word "exophoric" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "exo" and "phoros".

1. "Exo" (ἔξω) means "out, outside, or external" in Greek.

2. "Phoros" (φορός) means "to bear or carry" in Greek.

Combining these roots, "exophoric" literally means "carrying outside". Specifically, in linguistics, it refers to referring or pointing to something outside of the linguistic text, usually in terms of deixis or reference.