Introducing English Linguistics

that
guy’s talking pretty loud 
(MICASE OFC115SU060)
this
guy’s talking pretty loud
In the exchange below, Speaker A uses these to refer to plants close to her,
while Speaker B uses those in reference to begonias that are farther away.
A: Well, these damn plants have shot up in price so much of the last
year or two
B: Yes, those few begonias were a pound.
(ICE-GB S1A-007–21-22)
In all of the examples thus far, the demonstratives have been used to point
to specific items that are either close to or more distant from the speaker.
However, as Huddleston and Pullum (2002: 1505) note, physical distance
from the speaker is not always a consideration in the choice of one
demonstrative over the other; moreover, they continue, the demonstra-
tives can also refer “to properties of such objects or to actions taking place
or other abstract features of the situation of utterance.” Thus, in the
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INTRODUCING ENGLISH LINGUISTICS

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excerpt below, the two instances of that point to some statement made pre-
viously by the speaker. Using this rather than that would not necessarily
place the statement closer to the speaker.
Oh I don’t remember what it was. Right forget that. Scrap that point. 
(CIC)
Other kinds of spatial adverbials locate items in various positions rela-
tive to the speaker. In the example below, the speaker is looking for some-
thing that is missing and cannot determine whether it is close to him –
here – farther away – there – or somewhere else altogether: upstairs.
Is it here, or is it there? I think it’s I’ve got it upstairs.
(BNC KC4 1844)
The various spatial adverbials in the two examples below likewise specify
locations relative to the speakers of the utterances:
Well I stayed there in the room.
(CIC)
And I live on the same floor as his bloody girlfriend a few doors away.
(ICE-GB S1A-090–234)