2DC: Demonstrative pronouns display a two-way distance contrast (near and far).

concrete abstract

pronominal adnominal pronominal adnominal

proximal tēmi tēm ťit ťi

distal tomi tom ťūt ťū

(1a) tēm qɔ̄t jəʌəp, tom qɔ̄t ɔ̄ʌqas.

this house new that house old

‘This house is new, that house is old.’ (L. N. K.)

(1b) tēmi jəʌəp, tomi ɔ̄ʌqas.

this new that old

‘This one is new, that one is old.’ (L. N. K.)

(2) mɔ̄ʌqatʌ tom pūɣəʌ-a rūť īmi jowət. mā ťū īmi wū-ʌ-em.

yesterday that village-lat Russian woman arrive.pst.3sg I that woman know-prs-obj.1sg

‘Yesterday, a Russian woman arrived in the neighboring village. I know that woman.’ (L. N. K.)

The Surgut Khanty demonstratives have distal and proximal variants. Proximal demonstratives have high vowels, while distal pronouns have low vowels. Furthermore, demonstratives can be categorized depending on whether their referents are concrete (in sight) or abstract (out of sight) but known entities. All demonstrative have pronominal and adnominal forms.