logophoric

Logophoric refers to a grammatical phenomenon in which a logophoric pronoun marks the referent who is the source of reported speech, thought, or attitude. A logophoric pronoun is a dedicated form used to refer to the logophor, the discourse participant whose perspective is being reported. It contrasts with ordinary pronouns or noun phrases and with reflexives. In embedded clauses, especially those reporting speech or thought, logophoric pronouns indicate that the referent is linked to the source of the statement, typically the speaker or another central participant, rather than simply being the syntactic subject of the embedded clause.

In languages with logophoricity, logophoric marking may be obligatory in certain contexts, and the logophoric pronoun may be used in all or most embedded clauses where the discourse participant acts as the source of information. The form may be morphologically distinct from ordinary pronouns and may also interact with evidential and mood systems. These systems help distinguish who is speaking about whom and whose perspective is being represented.

Scholars study logophoricity to understand reference tracking, discourse structure, and cross-clausal binding. The phenomenon has been documented in a variety of languages across regions; its exact distribution and constraints vary by language. It is not equivalent to a reflexive or an ordinary pronoun; rather, it is a specialized device to encode perspective and source of information within the discourse.