The syllable in DGS is defined by a sequence of holds (H) and movements (M), (for movements in DGS, see [Phonology 1.3]). Signs in DGS are mono- or disyllabic and show different combinations of these units such as HMH (a syllable with a clear start- and endpoint), HM (and its reduplicated version), MH (and its reduplicated version), M (primary/path movement (M1) and/or secondary/internal movement (M2) such as finger wiggling) and very rarely H (a syllable consisting of a hold only). Examples of the types of syllables that can be found in DGS are given below:
a. father (HMH)
b. think (HM)
c. culture (HM)2
d. arrive (MH)
e. doctor (MH)2
f. fly (M1)
g. tree (M2)
h. influence (M1+2)
i. germany (H)
The syllable and a DGS prosodic word mostly coincide. The movement represents the nucleus of a syllable in DGS. Single movements are light syllables (a., b., d., f., g.) whereas combinations of movements (such as in c., e., h.) carry more syllabic weight. Syllables including a handshape change as in man or culture, for instance, constitute heavy syllables as well. In case of disyllabic syllables and an expressed emphatic marking, there is a tendency to show a stress pattern on the first syllable.
a. exam (disyllabic, reduplicated, stressed on first syllable)
b. table (disyllabic, different movements, stressed on first syllable)
Non-manual markers such as head nods or facial expressions that may accompany a syllable generally show an alignment with the according syllable pattern.