3.3.3.3. Syntactic contexts introducing attitude role shift
The embedding of a role shifted clause in DGS may include a matrix clause introducing the relevant discourse referents and an overt verb of saying, as in the example below.
rs:3a
yesterday p-e-t-e-r ix3a say tomorrow ix1 arrive palm_up
‘Yesterday Peter said that he will arrive tomorrow.’
(based on Herrmann & Steinbach, 2012: 211)
Typically, the DGS signs say, tell, ask, answer, think and wonder are used in this context. If referents are established in the signing space, an overt verb of saying (point of view predicate) is not always necessary, as in the example below.
rs:3b
fe, eg, bl
hs hs
e-m-m-a ix3b mother ix3a e-m-m-a ix3b ix1 tell ix1 ixa stay play wish
‘Emma said to her mother: “Hey, I don’t stay here and play.”
(based on Herrmann & Steinbach, 2012: 215)
Furthermore, a matrix clause can even be left empty if the locative association to the referents is clear in discourse. The non-manuals of the role shift alone indicate who is quoted and to whom the quote is directed to.