Personal Reference Types of Reference
For more detail explanation, below the tabular form was exposed in transitional grammar.
Speech Roles Other Roles
speaker addressee
Specific Generalized
Human One
I me Mine my
You you Yours you
Human Non- human
More than one
We us Ours our
He him His his
It it its its
One ones -
one‟s
They them Theirs their
Those items above are all reference items. They refer to something by specifying its function or role in speech situation. This system of reference is
known as person, where “person” is used in the special sense of „role‟. The
traditionally recognized categories are first person, second person, and third person. These categories are interesting with the number categories of singular
and plural.
The example of personal reference is the first singular I: There was a brief note from Susan. She just said, I am not coming home
this weekend. Halliday and Hasan1976:44
I, in the quoted clause, refer back to Susan in the first sentence. This is instance of anaphora. I still refers to the speaker, but we have to look in the
text to find out who the speaker is. I supposed my face must have given me away, for suddenly she swept
across and kissed me, but fortunately for my good resolutions she didn‟t linger close to me but promptly returned to her chair.
Halliday and Hasan1976:52 The Medical Director thank you for your attendance at the X-Ray Unit
and is happy to inform you that your film is satisfactory. You should keep this letter and take it with you whenever you have an X-Ray in
future. Halliday and Hasan1976:53
The example of personal reference the third singular person he and its changes:
If the buyer wants to know the condition of the property, he has to have another survey carried out on his own behalf.
Halliday and Hasan1976:53 Mikhail Gorbachev didn‟t have to change the world. He could have
chosen to rule much as his predecessors did. David Nunan, 1993:23
The example of personal reference the third singular person she and its changes:
A few moments later, Miss Emily entered the room. She was young and not very tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her clothes were
not suitable, but they were clean and tidy. She had lovely lace. I noticed at once that she looked worried and unhappy.
David Nunan, 1993:23 “Jane, this is Alice Listen, I just got a call from Betty, and she said she
heard something‟s happened out there. Have you heard anything” That was the way they phrased it, call after call. She picked up the telephone
and began relaying this same message to some of the others . David Nunan, 1993:23
The example personal reference the first plural person it and is changes: This note was found in my father‟s luggage. It is very strange. I
don‟t know what it means. Perhaps it isn‟t very important, but I wanted you to see it.
David Nunan, 1993:24
The dog looked very strange. It had very long ears and very short legs and its eyes were large and sad.
David Nunan, 1993:24 The example of personal reference the first plural person we and its changes:
We ran out into the garden, replied Shelton. We looked everywhere, but we found nothing. In the morning, we went to our father‟s room.
David Nunan, 1993:25 The example of personal reference the first plural person they and its changes:
As we hurried along, I thought about the man and the pygmy. I wondered what would happen when we found them. I know that
they were dangerous. David Nunan, 1993:25
A few minutes later, twelve children ran into the room. Their clothes were dirty and ragged. They had no shoes on their feet. Their hair was untidy
and their face had not been washed for a very long time. But they seemed happy and careful.
David Nunan, 1993:25