A phonological utterance (PU) is a prosodic domain that covers the whole utterance and, thus, always consists of one or multiple of the above-mentioned units. There is actually no proof that this level is relevant for sign languages, by which we mean that there is no indication yet that the markers of a phonological utterance would be different from markers of the intonational phrase; therefore, the description we offer here is preliminary. The end of sentences in general can be marked by a handshape hold, syllable repetitions, lowering of the hands, strong movements, and/or insertion of a dummy element such as an index or palm_up. Additionally, as can be seen in Example 7, the start of the utterance can also be marked by repeated signs, specifically to catch the attention of the interlocutor – in the example, the first-person pronoun ix1. In the presented prosodic analysis, the phonological utterance consists of three intonational phrases, which in turn consist of a phonological phrase including two prosodic words.
7. h1 [[[[ix1+ ix1+3]PW [woman ix3 ]PW]PP]IP
h2 [[[[ ]PW [neighbor ]PW]PP]IP
mouth samen wandelen
h1 [[[ix1+3]PW [take_a_walk]PW]PP]IP
h2 [[[ ]PW [take_a_walk]PW]PP]IP
mouth naar bos
h1 [[[to]PW [forest cl(
h2 [[[ ]PW [forest cl(
‘My neighbor and I, we went for a walk together, to the forest.’
(CNGT01484, S63, 00:03.970-00:11.460)
Translation of mouthings: we woman together take_a_walk to forest