9. Relative clauses in Vute grammar and discourse
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Rhonda Thwing
Abstract
This paper examines the structure of relative clauses in the grammar and discourse of Vute, a mambiloid language spoken by 15,000-25,000 people in Cameroon in the Centre and Adamawa Regions with a few small villages in the East Region. As expected with head-initial constituent order, all relative clauses in Vute are postnominal. The head of a relative clause may be either a noun, pronoun, or nominalized verb. Since the Vute language lacks any overt relative pronoun or relativizer, the language uses three morphosyntactic means to indicate a relative clause: 1) relativized noun phrase (NPREL) marking, 2) dependent/ defocused verbal aspect marking, 3) genitive marker and some other NP-final elements. Within the NPREL marking there are two strategies, gapping and a particular pronoun that indicate a relative clause. Within verbal aspect marking, the defocused verb form indicates a relative clause. As for genitive marking and other elements, they occur at the final border of the relative clause. Furthermore, Vute limits relative clauses to two or three functions in discourse: as markers of discontinuity, in locally relevant adverbial constituents, and as markers of thematic prominence.
Abstract
This paper examines the structure of relative clauses in the grammar and discourse of Vute, a mambiloid language spoken by 15,000-25,000 people in Cameroon in the Centre and Adamawa Regions with a few small villages in the East Region. As expected with head-initial constituent order, all relative clauses in Vute are postnominal. The head of a relative clause may be either a noun, pronoun, or nominalized verb. Since the Vute language lacks any overt relative pronoun or relativizer, the language uses three morphosyntactic means to indicate a relative clause: 1) relativized noun phrase (NPREL) marking, 2) dependent/ defocused verbal aspect marking, 3) genitive marker and some other NP-final elements. Within the NPREL marking there are two strategies, gapping and a particular pronoun that indicate a relative clause. Within verbal aspect marking, the defocused verb form indicates a relative clause. As for genitive marking and other elements, they occur at the final border of the relative clause. Furthermore, Vute limits relative clauses to two or three functions in discourse: as markers of discontinuity, in locally relevant adverbial constituents, and as markers of thematic prominence.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface v
- Contents ix
- Abbreviations xi
- 1. Kaleidoscopic variations on grammatical themes: Relative clauses in Bantoid languages of Cameroon 1
- 2. Accessibility and demonstrative operators in Basaá relative clauses 17
- 3. The augment as a construct form marker in Eton relative clause constructions 47
- 4. Relative clauses and relativization processes in Nugunu 67
- 5. Kenyang relative clauses 89
- 6. Relative clause in (Western) Ejagham 119
- 7. A prolegomenon to the syntax of the relative clause in the Eastern Grassfields Bantu borderland 145
- 8. Relative clause constructions in two Yemne-Kimbi languages 169
- 9. Relative clauses in Vute grammar and discourse 209
- 10. Relative clauses in Wawa 233
- 11. Conclusion 261
- References 267
- Index 277
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface v
- Contents ix
- Abbreviations xi
- 1. Kaleidoscopic variations on grammatical themes: Relative clauses in Bantoid languages of Cameroon 1
- 2. Accessibility and demonstrative operators in Basaá relative clauses 17
- 3. The augment as a construct form marker in Eton relative clause constructions 47
- 4. Relative clauses and relativization processes in Nugunu 67
- 5. Kenyang relative clauses 89
- 6. Relative clause in (Western) Ejagham 119
- 7. A prolegomenon to the syntax of the relative clause in the Eastern Grassfields Bantu borderland 145
- 8. Relative clause constructions in two Yemne-Kimbi languages 169
- 9. Relative clauses in Vute grammar and discourse 209
- 10. Relative clauses in Wawa 233
- 11. Conclusion 261
- References 267
- Index 277
