A Grammar of German Sign Language (DGS)

The lexicon comprises a specific handshape inventory, i.e. not every physically and structurally possible handshape is part of DGS. Approximately 28 to 34 different handshapes with a distinctive function are used in DGS.

The signs family and room illustrate a minimal pair regarding handshape. Both two-handed signs are articulated with a circular movement in front of the signer’s torso. The only difference between both signs is the use of the different handshapes: n versus B. 

family – room 

                    

 

Further minimal pairs regarding handshapes are:

a. duck – bird

 

b. poss₁ – courage

 

 

 

 

c. broken – fresh       

                   

 

d. when – evil       

            

 

 

 

 

e. yes – right         

                 

 

 

 

 

f.  sign – machine         

            

 

g. salad – practice   

           

 

h. electricity – control 

    

 

i. thank – say    

 

 

 

 

 

Handshapes are defined by the following four categories of features:

• Activated fingers: thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinkie, and combinations thereof
• Thumb: opposed (thumb in opposition to the other fingers), closed (contact between thumb and activated fingers)
• Form of the activated fingers: angled, arced, straddled
• Non-activated fingers: stretched

Whereas the activated fingers can be specified for different features, the non-activated fingers exhibit solely the feature [+/–stretched]. According to the so-called Finger Selection Rule, a handshape change in a conventionalized simple sign concerns only the fingers involved in the first handshape. One example is find. The thumb and index finger are activated. In the first handshape, both fingers are directed to one another (+) and, in the second handshape, both fingers have contact (#).

find    

 

 

 

It can be distinguished between marked and unmarked handshapes. Unmarked handshapes such as > and 6 are easy to articulate, are learned early in language acquisition, are more likely used in all investigated sign languages, and are crucial for the non-dominant hand in two-handed signs. Examples of marked handshapes in DGS are d and X.