DGS intonation shows compositional features. Manual articulation changes and non-manual features combine to systematically build intonational contours and express the meaning of certain intonational tunes. Intonational patterns spread over intonational phrases and utterances.
The difference between a declarative [Syntax 1.1.] and a polar interrogative [Syntax 1.2.1.] in DGS is that the domain of the polar interrogative is marked by brow raise and usually head forward. Brow furrow is systematically associated with wh-interrogratives in DGS. Imperatives, for instance, show a faster articulation and specific facial expressions (various features and to varying degrees depending on the force of the imperative, e.g. command, permission, advice). In addition, squint may mark an utterance (or smaller domain) as low accessible for the addressee, but retrievable from the common ground (the shared information of speaker and addressee).
a. Squint in DGS
b. Examples of intonational non-manual features in DGS
hn ht-f
sq,ht-f fe fr,fe
[ix1+2pl person tim ix1+2pl sign-h]ip: [[but poss3 father]pp [ix3 pers]PP]ip [what ix3 say]ip
‘Both of us, we were talking about Tim, right? But his father, what did he say.’
hs
hs tp re ht-f,fe,sq
[[tim mean very]pp [ix1 nearly cry++]pp]ip : [annoyed need.not]ip [ix2 know pam3]ip
‘ “Tim was so mean, I nearly cried my eyes out.” “Don´t be annoyed. You know him!” ’
(based on Herrmann 2012: 367)
Irony and sarcasm can also be found in DGS and are usually marked by intonational patterns. If non-manuals are used differently than expected, the sign or the utterance may be interpreted as meant ironically.