A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

2.4.1.2. Null objects

Null objects occur with all verb types in DGS. In (a), the object argument of the transitive plain verb like is dropped. In (b), the transitive plain verb repeat occurs with a null subject and object.

 

                                          hs

a.       ix3a like not palm_up

         ‘He does not like (being surrounded by hearing people).’

 

                                                                                  (based on Oomen, 2020: 139)

 

 

b.      repeat

         ‘(The teacher) repeats (the topics.)

 

 

        

Null objects also occur with forward agreement verbs as in (a) and with backward agreement verbs as in (b). In both examples, subject and object arguments are omitted and both verbs are modified in order to mark agreement.

 

a.           3ateach3bpl++

         ‘(He) teaches (every of them).’

 

 

 

 

b.      christmas 3ainvite1++

         ‘(My grandparents) invited (me) for Christmas.’

 

    

 

List of editors

Sina Proske, Derya Nuhbalaoglu, Annika Herrmann, Jana Hosemann & Markus Steinbach

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Bibliographical reference for citation

The entire grammar:
Branchini, Chiara and Lara Mantovan (eds.). 2020. A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series). (http://sign-hub.eu/grammars/...) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

A Chapter:
Smith, Mary. 2020. Syntax: 3. Coordination and Subordination. In Branchini, Chiara and Lara Mantovan (eds.), A Grammar of Italian Sign Language (LIS). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series), 230-237. ((http://sign-hub.eu/grammars/...) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

A Section:
Smith, Mary. 2020. Phonology: 1.1.1.2. Finger configuration. In Mary, Smith, Ben Smith and Carlo Smith (eds.), A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). 1st ed. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series), 230-237. (http://sign-hub.eu/grammars/...) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

Smith, Mary. 2020. Syntax: 3.1.2.1.3. Manual markers in disjunctive coordination. In Mary, Smith, Ben Smith and Carlo Smith (eds.), A Grammar of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). 1st edn. (SIGN-HUB Sign Language Grammar Series), 230-237. (http://sign-hub.eu/grammars/...) (Accessed 31-10-2021)

europe-flagThis project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant Agreement No 693349.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike4.0 License.