Why the people say je suis là instead of je suis ici?

Answer 1

"là" and "ici" are very common terms in French.

They are very close in meaning and French speakers use both words. There may be a small difference, "là" meaning "there" while "ici" means "here".

However, in the example you use obviously he cannot mean "there" if he's saying "Je suis là." Generally speaking ici means exactly here (on the spot) whereas là means around here.

For example, if someone calls on the phone and asks you if someone is there you could say:

"Il n'est pas ici mais il est là."

By this you mean he's not standing next to you but he is here (in the building somewhere).

But, il n'est pas lá, can also mean he's not in. A telephone conversation can begin with est-ce Paul est lá - Is Paul in? Non, il n'est pas lá - No, he's not in.