A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

3.7.6. Relative pronouns

Relative clauses [Syntax 3.4.are marked with various different strategies in DGS, among those are relative pronouns, word order, manual and non-manual markers. There are two relative pronouns in DGS, one is used for human referents and the other for non-human referents. The relative pronoun for humans is realized with B -handshape (also a classifier handshape for humans in DGS), while the relative pronoun for non-human entities has H -handshape. Relative pronouns are accompanied with eyebrow raise, which is also used to mark topics in DGS [Pragmatics 4.3.2.]. These pronouns are not marked for number and can agree with loci associated with the referents they co-refer with. The examples of relative pronouns in DGS are given below.

 

                               re

a.         man ix3a ix(B) cat stroke beautiful 

            โ€˜The man, who is stroking the cat, is handsomeโ€™

            

(based on Pfau & Steinbach, 2005: 512)


 

 

 

 

                            re

b.         book ix(H) poss1father read interesting

            โ€˜The book, which my father reads, is interesting.โ€™

         

(based on Pfau & Steinbach, 2005: 512)



 

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)