Given the scarcity of the research done in the sphere of prosody of the visual-gestural modality in Russian Sign Language (RSL), the present study attempts to explore RSL phonology concentrating on the means of giving emphasis in the context of RSL. The objective of the study is to identify the most and the least prominent intensification means in monologue and dialogue video samples of three RSL signers. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the prosody of the aural-oral and the visual-gestural modalities is provided with the goal to pinpoint the similarities between the two. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that, for the first time on RSL material, a systematic analysis of emphatic means in spontaneous monologue and dialogue speech has been conducted, and a functional parallel with the prosody of spoken language has been demonstrated, thereby expanding the understanding of the typology of prosody in the visual-gestural modality. The experiment results, obtained with the help of the computer programme ELAN, where the means of intensification in RSL (non-manual markers, lexical repetition, modification of movement, doubling of hands, and intensifiers) were annotated, revealed the absolute preference for the non-manual markers, while the intensifiers proved to be the least popular in achieving emphasis. The similarity with the aural-oral modality is found primarily in the simultaneity of application of several means of providing emphasis. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of the obtained data in RSL teaching materials, in lexicographic practice for refining dictionary entries, in the development of automatic Russian Sign Language recognition systems, as well as in deaf pedagogy.