A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

2.1.2.3.2. Non-manual verb agreement

Non-manual marking may accompany manual agreement in DGS. Specifically, the signer’s eye gaze is directed towards the location of the object in person agreement verbs and towards the locative argument in spatial verbs. In the example below, the signer looks down towards the end location of the verb fall, where the theme doll is located at the end of the falling event.

eg-down

table doll fall

‘The doll fell off the table.’

Eye gaze towards a participant is aligned with the production of the predicate sign and does not extend over the entire utterance. Signers gaze less at the locus of the arguments of plain verbs, suggesting that this non-manual behavior is closely aligned with manual agreement.

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)