A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

DGS uses visually realized lines in the signing space to express time. Along these time lines, the signer can establish a position that indicates time in relation to his or her body. 

 

A time line used in DGS, is a horizontal line at the height of the shoulder that runs along from a point behind the signer to a point in front of the signer. Due to anatomic reasons, the height of the time line can vary. Signs produced on or behind the shoulder express past whereas signs produced close to the signer’s chest correspond to present tense. Signs that are moving along the time line in front of the signer’s body indicate future. Time adverbials in DGS (yesterday, now or tomorrow among others) [see Lexicon 3.5.2 and Syntax 6.4.2.1] are signed along this time line.

 

Another possible time line runs from a point close the signer’s belly to a point in front of the signer. Along this line, the signer locates a specific point functioning as a reference point. Signs produced close to the signer’s belly correspond to a point in time that happened before the determined reference point. Signs produced in front of the signer and in front of the located reference point correspond to the events which happened afterwards.

 

a. before (time line away from the body)

 

 

b. after (time line away from the body)

 

 

It is also possible, to establish a time line across to the signer’s body that runs from right to left in the signing space. On this line, the signer locates a point of reference and all other signs are used in relation to that point. Signs produced on the left of the established point are related to a time period before this established time point and signs produced rightward are connected with time points after the reference point. To locate a point along one of these time lines, in DGS, a ~ or H -handshape is used as exemplified below. In the following discourse, it is possible to refer back to those established time points or periods by using a B -handshape.

 a. before (time line across the body)

 

 

 

 

b. after (time line across the body)

 

 

 

 

Furthermore, there are several signs that are produced along a time line, which are used to express specific time periods. The sentences below illustrate the use of the signs time_period, block and span_of_time.

 

a.           ix_1+2pl monday friday time_period meet can                               

‘We both can meet between Monday and Friday.’

 

 

 

b.           ix_1+2pl tomorrow only ten twelve block between meet can

‘We both can only meet tomorrow between ten and twelve.’

 

 

 

c.           ix_1+2pl next week ix can monday wednesday span_of_time meet

         ‘We both can meet next week between Monday and Wednesday.’