22. Relative clauses
-
Cecilia Poletto
Abstract
In this chapter we present an overview of the relative clause system in Romance languages and offer a number of cross-linguistic descriptive generalizations. We will make use of both diachronic and geographical variation, viewing them as two sides of the same coin, which both reveal the type and number of syntactic processes active in relative clauses. The empirical domain we take into consideration includes three different aspects: the paradigm of lexical relativizers, the presence of resumption, and the lack of lexical relativizers in both restrictive and appositive relative clauses. The aim of this article is not to provide new analyses for these phenomena, but to show how cross-linguistic variation can direct our research towards precise generalizations, which in turn have their theoretical relevance for syntactic theories.
Abstract
In this chapter we present an overview of the relative clause system in Romance languages and offer a number of cross-linguistic descriptive generalizations. We will make use of both diachronic and geographical variation, viewing them as two sides of the same coin, which both reveal the type and number of syntactic processes active in relative clauses. The empirical domain we take into consideration includes three different aspects: the paradigm of lexical relativizers, the presence of resumption, and the lack of lexical relativizers in both restrictive and appositive relative clauses. The aim of this article is not to provide new analyses for these phenomena, but to show how cross-linguistic variation can direct our research towards precise generalizations, which in turn have their theoretical relevance for syntactic theories.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Manuals of Romance Linguistics V
- Table of Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- 1. Introduction 1
-
The verbal domain
- 2. Subjects 27
- 3. Objects 89
- 4. Argument structure and argument structure alternations 154
- 5. Clitic pronouns 183
- 6. Voice and voice alternations 230
- 7. Auxiliaries 272
- 8. Causative and perception verbs 299
- 9. Copular and existential constructions 332
-
The clausal and sentential domains
- 10. Infinitival clauses 369
- 11. Tense, aspect, mood 397
- 12. Negation and polarity 449
- 13. Dislocations and framings 472
- 14. Focus Fronting 502
- 15. Cleft constructions 536
- 16. Interrogatives 569
- 17. Exclamatives, imperatives, optatives 603
- 18. Coordination and correlatives 647
-
The nominal domain
- 19. Gender and number 691
- 20. Determination and quantification 727
- 21. Adjectival and genitival modification 771
- 22. Relative clauses 804
-
Typological aspects
- 23. Syntheticity and Analyticity 839
- 24. Basic constituent orders 887
- List of Contributors 933
- Index 941
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Manuals of Romance Linguistics V
- Table of Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- 1. Introduction 1
-
The verbal domain
- 2. Subjects 27
- 3. Objects 89
- 4. Argument structure and argument structure alternations 154
- 5. Clitic pronouns 183
- 6. Voice and voice alternations 230
- 7. Auxiliaries 272
- 8. Causative and perception verbs 299
- 9. Copular and existential constructions 332
-
The clausal and sentential domains
- 10. Infinitival clauses 369
- 11. Tense, aspect, mood 397
- 12. Negation and polarity 449
- 13. Dislocations and framings 472
- 14. Focus Fronting 502
- 15. Cleft constructions 536
- 16. Interrogatives 569
- 17. Exclamatives, imperatives, optatives 603
- 18. Coordination and correlatives 647
-
The nominal domain
- 19. Gender and number 691
- 20. Determination and quantification 727
- 21. Adjectival and genitival modification 771
- 22. Relative clauses 804
-
Typological aspects
- 23. Syntheticity and Analyticity 839
- 24. Basic constituent orders 887
- List of Contributors 933
- Index 941
