1.2.3.4. Non-interrogative uses of wh-signs

In DGS it is also possible to have a wh-question without a wh-sign.

 

           wh

         time

         โ€˜What time is it?โ€™

 

 

 

 

Although there is no manual wh-sign present, the use of a mouthing that includes a wh-word is obligatory to accompany the signs in DGS (in this case /wie spรคt/). This is also true for the sign how_old, that manually looks identical to the sign old. In order to be understood as the question โ€˜How old are you?โ€™, the mouthing accompanying the sign has to be /wie alt/ โ€˜how oldโ€™ as shown in example below.

 

                           wh

         you how_old

         โ€˜How old are you?โ€™