A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

DGS allows subjects and objects [Syntax 2.4.] to be omitted as long as their reference is clear from the context (topic drop) or from agreement marking on the predicate (pro-drop). In the example below, Max is set up as the discourse topic in the first sentence. As no new topic is introduced in the second sentence, Max is therefore understood as the subject of all the verbs in the following sentence and does not need to be expressed with an overt subject pronoun.

yesterday m-a-x ix₃ birthday cake eat poss₃ three present open evening restaurant

‘Yesterday was Max’s birthday. (He) ate cake, opened his three presents, and went out for dinner.’

If the predicate is marked for agreement with locations associated with discourse referents in previous discourse, subject and (indirect) object may be dropped as in the second sentence below:

         yesterday t-i-m ix_a m-a-x ix_{b a}visit_b. book _agive_as_present_b

          ‘Yesterday Tim_i visited Max_k. (He_i) gave (him_k) a present.’

Likewise, classifier handshapes in classifier predicates may narrow down the referent of a previously mentioned argument enough for the argument to be omitted. In the following example, the direct object is dropped but its referent can be recovered with the help of the handshape of the classifier predicate. The I-hand represents long thin objects such as a pen.

         yesterday m-a-x ix_a pen buy. t-i-m ix_b cl(I):a_give_b

         ‘Yesterday Max bought a pen. (He) gave (it) to Tim.’