In perspective of pragmatics, pronominal systems, regarded as the most obvious manifestations of person, are exemplified by such pronouns as “I” for the first person , “you” for the second person , and “he”, “she”, or “it” for the third person. In specific context, the reference for the first person pronoun “I” is definite. However, there exist two interpretations when it comes to the first person plural pronouns: we-inclusive-of-addressee (whether or not addressee being present, absent, or inexistent) and we-exclusive-of-addressee. Unlike the definite reference of the first person pronoun “I”, that of the second person pronoun “you” depends on certain context. It can refer to one addressee or more regardless of his/her/their presence, absence or inexistence. Besides, “you” is used both for singular and plural form, which adds to its flexibility (He, 1997). In normal conditions, the third person pronoun refers neither to the addresser nor to addressee.  

Since the mid-20th century, researches on the person deixis have drawn great attention from scholars. Brown and Gilman conduct a study on the second person pronouns in such Indo-European languages as French, German, Italian, and Spanish from the perspectives of power and solidarity. The familiar tu/vous type of distinction discussed in their researches later refers to the T/V pronouns (qtd. from Cheng, 2013). From then on, Brown and Gilman initiate the study of person deixis.