A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

Iterative aspect involves continuously repeated actions or events within a certain period. In DGS, iterative aspect is similar to habitual aspect because iterative aspect is expressed by reduplication of the verb sign at the same spatial location of the signing space. Between the single repetitions there is a pause, but in contrast to habitual aspect these pauses are shorter. See below different examples of iterative aspect in DGS.

a.       person post package ring_the_bell++._iter palm_up

‘The postman brings a package and keeps ringing the bell.’


 

b.      ix flower++ water ix₁ g_wave_off bloom++._iter

‘I forgot to water the flowers but they bloom again and again.’


 

c.       family holiday drive++ ix boy fall_a_sleep++._iter

‘The family goes on vacation and the boy falls asleep again and again.’

 

d.      school ix₁ go++ bus go++ monday often typical ix₁ bus miss++._iter

‘I go to school by bus but Mondays I typically miss the bus again and again.’