A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

3.7. Pronouns

Pronouns in DGS are expressed in the signing space. They refer either to physically present or absent referents by pointing towards the actual or abstract locations previously associated with those referents. Pointing can be realized either manually (with the index finger -H, the thumb-2 or the entire hand-x) or non-manually (with eye gaze, head nod or body orientation), as well as combinations of these. See [Lexicon 1.2.2.] for further information on pointing.

Other than pointing, classifier handshapes as in relative pronouns referring to humans [Lexicon 3.7.6.], lexical forms such as interrogative [Lexicon 3.7.5.] and indefinite pronouns [Lexicon 3.7.7.] can be used for pronominal reference. Additionally, in DGS pronouns do not have to be pronounced when their referents are easily retrievable from the context [Pragmatics 2.1.].

List of editors

Sina Proske, Derya Nuhbalaoglu, Annika Herrmann, Jana Hosemann & Markus Steinbach

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Bibliographical reference for citation

The entire grammar:
Sina Proske, Derya Nuhbalaoglu, Annika Herrmann, Jana Hosemann & Markus Steinbach (eds.). 2020. A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series). (http://thesignhub.eu/grammar/dgs) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

A chapter:
Smith, Mary. 2020. Syntax: 3. Coordination and Subordination. In Sina Proske, Derya Nuhbalaoglu, Annika Herrmann, Jana Hosemann and Markus Steinbach (eds.), A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series), 230-237. ((https://thesignhub.eu/grammar/dgs) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

A section:
Smith, Mary. 2020. Phonology: 1.1.1.2. Finger configuration. In Sina Proske, Derya Nuhbalaoglu, Annika Herrmann, Jana Hosemann and Markus Steinbach (eds.), A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series), 230-237. (http://thesignhub.eu/grammar/dgs) (Accessed 31-10-2021)