When Norwegian gå means deixis

This study investigates the semantics of the Norwegian verb gå with special reference to deixis. More specifically, it investigates under what conditions gå has an andative interpretation. Methodologically, this study combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected via the noTenTen17 Bokmål corpus and direct elicitation sessions with native Norwegian speakers. Based on the results of the quantitative analysis, I argue that animacy is not a factor that determines the deictic status of gå. Contrary to what the literature would lead one to expect, gå can have a deictic interpretation whether the subject is animate or inanimate. Additionally, based on the results of my qualitative analysis, I argue that gå can have a deictic interpretation under the following four manner-defocusing conditions: (i) gå is contrasted with the venitive verb komme ‘come’, (ii) an animate subject is interpreted as moving abstractly, (iii) an inanimate subject is conceived as having its own power to move or is metaphorically conceived as moving, and (iv) a resulting state after the motion event described by gå is foregrounded, and the motion itself is backgrounded. In sum, the findings of this study provide a better understanding of the Norwegian motion verb gå.