Timeline for "It's raining. This is why nobody is sunbathing now." — "this" is natural. "It's raining. This is why I won't go out." — "this" is unnatural. Why?

Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0

7 events

when toggle format	what		by	license	comment
Oct 29 at 20:07	comment	added	Loviii		You gave the following example: { A man is standing by the window. A woman asks him why he isn't going to go out. He points to the window and the rain outside the window. "It's raining. This is why I won't go out". } – Is "this" here an anaphoric or deictic word? Thanks.
Oct 27 at 21:06	comment	added	James K		But don't over think this. "This" and "That" both communicate, and that's the most important thing.
Oct 27 at 21:05	comment	added	James K		It might be natural in some contexts. But in most contexts "that" is much more likely. It might depend on, for example if "that" has already been used to refer to something else in the conversation. Or if there is something else that makes the speaker feel "close". But normally just like Kate says, "That" is the word to use.
Oct 27 at 19:25	comment	added	Loviii		Okay, if someone is pointing to something, "this" is a natural choice. But if there's no pointing, can "this" in "It's raining. This is why I won't go out" be natural? Thanks.
Oct 27 at 18:45	comment	added	James K		It could be natural. I think you'd most often hear "that", but sometimes "this". It would be hard to give a clear rule, but here is an example: A man is standing by the window. A woman asks him why he isn't going to go out. He points to the window and the rain outside the window. "It's raining. This is why I won't go out".
Oct 27 at 18:34	comment	added	Loviii		Your sentence { I also disagree that "this" would be very unnatural } is confusing me. Let's leave aside the word "very". Tell me please you consider "this" in "It's raining. This is why I won't go out" natural or unnatural?
Oct 27 at 17:21	history	answered	James K	CC BY-SA 4.0