A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

The embedding of a role shifted clause in DGS may include a matrix clause introducing the relevant discourse referents and an overt verb of saying, as in the example below.

                                                                                                      rs:3a

            yesterday p-e-t-e-r ix_3a say tomorrow ix₁ arrive palm_up   

            ‘Yesterday Peter said that he will arrive tomorrow.’

(based on Herrmann & Steinbach, 2012: 211)

Typically, the DGS signs say, tell, ask, answer, think and wonder are used in this context. If referents are established in the signing space, an overt verb of saying (point of view predicate) is not always necessary, as in the example below.

                                                                                                                    rs:3b

                                                                                                              fe, eg, bl

                                                                                               hs                      hs

            e-m-m-a ix_3b mother ix_3a e-m-m-a ix_3b ix₁ tell ix₁ ix_a stay play wish

           ‘Emma said to her mother: “Hey, I don’t stay here and play.”

                                                                            (based on Herrmann & Steinbach, 2012: 215)

Furthermore, a matrix clause can even be left empty if the locative association to the referents is clear in discourse. The non-manuals of the role shift alone indicate who is quoted and to whom the quote is directed to.