4.1.4. Emphatic focus
Emphatic focus marking is used for intensifying a sign and thus related to focus doubling [Pragmatics 4.1.5] in DGS as a doubled element is associated with emphasis.
In the example below, doubling of a wh-word is shown, but also additional manual markers as tense and large articulation and non-manual markings as furrowed eyebrows, squint and chin back occur.
fe,sq,cb
where poss1 shoe where
‘Where on earth is my shoe?’
(Herrmann 2013: 140)
An intensified articulation of the sign (both manually and non-manually intensified focus markings) can also be used to mark emphatic focus. In rare cases, the manual modification of a sign may be used for emphasis. For example, a one-handed sign may turn into a two-handed sign and/or a handshape may change.
you know pammod
‘You know what he is like!’
In the example, a functional element such as pam (usually one-handed sign with a E-handshape) turned into a modified sign pammod (a two-handed sign with a w-handshape) due to emphasis.
Another strategy for emphatic focus marking may be the use of the sign self (signed with the B-handshape held upright and palm facing inwards to the body) that is associated with focus and is called a focus marker. This lexical element self follows the focus constituent and occurs with simultaneous facial expressions such as raised eye brows, wide eyes and head nods.