A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

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.