A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

PDF (Oct 2020)

2.2.1.3. Strategies of pronoun copying for subject and object

Subject pronoun copy [Syntax 2.2.1.3] is another syntactic phenomenon that distinguishes between subjects and objects. In DGS, polar questions may end in a pronominal copy of the subject if the predicate of the sentence does not (typically) mark agreement. The first occurrence of the subject may either be pronominal (a) or a full noun phrase (b).

y/n

a. ix₂ pizza order ix₂

‘Did you order pizza?’

y/n

b. m-a-x already pizza order ix₃

‘Did Max order pizza?’

The pronominal copy is unstressed and is not separated from the rest of the clause via a pause. It is only subjects that can be copied in this fashion, objects and non-arguments are excluded.

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)