A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that introduces an embedded clause and/or connects main and embedded clause. The subordinating conjunction expresses a relationship between both clauses which is related to a change in time or place or indicates a cause or effect.

 

In DGS, manual subordinating conjunctions are rare. Embedding is usually expressed non-manually as demonstrated in the conditional clause [Syntax 3.5.1.] below.

 

    bl-f,re                                                                 bl-b

tomorrow outside hot   ix_1pl outside sea swim can

‘If it’s going to be hot outside tomorrow, we can swim in the sea.’

 

 

But with certain adverbial clauses [Syntax 3.5.], DGS uses manual subordinating conjunctions which are illustrated below. In conditional clauses as above [Syntax 3.5.1.], the antecedent may be introduced by the manual signs if1 or if2 and the consequence is manually marked by then.

 

a.       if1

 

 

 

 

b.       if2      

 

 

 

c.       then      

 

 

 

 

                                                 re

d.      if tomorrow outside hot then ix_1pl outside sea swim can

         ‘If it’s going to be hot tomorrow, we can swim in the sea.’

 

 

 

The sign reason has grammaticalized from the noun reason and may be used as subordinating conjunction to introduce reason clauses [Syntax 3.5.5.] as shown in (a). Similar, the wh-sign why [Syntax 1.2.3.2.] has grammaticalized into a subordinating conjunction illustrated in (b).

 

a.       ix₁ sad reason dog past die

         ‘I am sad because (my) dog died in the past.’

(based on Herrmann &Steinbach, 2012: 806)

 

 

b.      today ix₁ early get_up why ix₁ 7_o_clock work begin

         ‘I got up early today because I start working at 7 o’clock.’

(based on Paspaspyrou et al, 2008: 188) 

 

 

 

 

Purpose clauses [Syntax 3.5.6.] may be introduced by therefore (‘deshalb’).

 

poss₁ car tire plat therefore garage back

‘My car has plat tire therefore I bring it back to a garage.’

          (recreated from Papaspyrou et al. 2008: 187) 

 

 

 

 

Concessive clauses [Syntax 3.5.7.] may be introduced by though (‘trotzdem’) or although (‘obwohl) or no_matter (‘egal’).

 

a.       ix_3b boy sick though ix_3b go school must

         ‘The boy is sick though he must go to school.’

 

 

 

b.      today ix_1pl still contact although live different city

         ‘Today we still have contact although (we) live in different cities.’

(based on CDGS_koe_15_Experience as a Deaf: 00:10:39:11-00:10:42-46)

 

c.       toothpaste emtpty no_matter tooth_brush must

         ‘The toothpaste is empty but you still have to brush the teeth.’