Demonstrative pronouns in Kina Rutul

Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental study of exophoric uses of demonstrative pronouns in the Kina variety of Rutul (Lezgic, East Caucasian). We collected the questionnaire designed by Wilkins (1999) from seven female native speakers of different ages to determine the spatial meanings of demonstrative pronouns and to identify secondary parameters affecting the use of pronouns, such as visibility of the object and boundaries of the living space. The demonstrative system of Kina Rutul proved to be polycentric (person-oriented). In addition, we found a difference in use of the distal demonstrative. Some speakers use it considering the distance to both participants, while others use it only as a speaker (and not addressee) oriented term. We suppose that this difference might correlate with the speakers’ age and be evidence in favour of a potential change in the system of demonstrative pronouns in the modern language.