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Chapter 15: Relativization

  • Christine Johansson
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Volume 4 Early Modern English
This chapter is in the book Volume 4 Early Modern English

Abstract

This chapter describes the use of relativizers in Early Modern English, focusing on speech-related material, i.e. Trials and Drama texts from the periods 1560-1599 and 1680-1719. What is most striking as regards the use of relativizers is the predominance of the relativizer that. It is used with all types of personal and nonpersonal antecedents and in restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses, although it is rare in nonrestrictive relative clauses. The wh-forms compete with that in restrictive clauses but who is not frequent except with personal names, and which decreases in frequency, as it is rarely used with personal antecedents. The zero construction becomes increasingly frequent, particularly in the second period (1680-1719). Thus, the variation is rather between that and the zero construction than between that and the wh-forms. By 1719, we recognize many of the features of Present-day usage of relativizers. These features probably appeared earlier in speech-related data than in the literary language.

Abstract

This chapter describes the use of relativizers in Early Modern English, focusing on speech-related material, i.e. Trials and Drama texts from the periods 1560-1599 and 1680-1719. What is most striking as regards the use of relativizers is the predominance of the relativizer that. It is used with all types of personal and nonpersonal antecedents and in restrictive and nonrestrictive relative clauses, although it is rare in nonrestrictive relative clauses. The wh-forms compete with that in restrictive clauses but who is not frequent except with personal names, and which decreases in frequency, as it is rarely used with personal antecedents. The zero construction becomes increasingly frequent, particularly in the second period (1680-1719). Thus, the variation is rather between that and the zero construction than between that and the wh-forms. By 1719, we recognize many of the features of Present-day usage of relativizers. These features probably appeared earlier in speech-related data than in the literary language.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Abbreviations VII
  4. Chapter 1: Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2: Early Modern English: Overview 8
  6. Chapter 3: Phonology 27
  7. Chapter 4: Morphology 47
  8. Chapter 5: Syntax 68
  9. Chapter 6: Lexicon and semantics 89
  10. Chapter 7: Pragmatics and discourse 108
  11. Chapter 8: Dialects 128
  12. Chapter 9: Language contact 150
  13. Chapter 10: Standardization 167
  14. Chapter 11: Sociolinguistics 188
  15. Chapter 12: Pronouns 209
  16. Chapter 13: Periphrastic DO 224
  17. Chapter 14: The Great Vowel Shift 241
  18. Chapter 15: Relativization 267
  19. Chapter 16: Literary language 287
  20. Chapter 17: The language of Shakespeare 309
  21. Index 333
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110525069-015

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Contents V
  3. Abbreviations VII
  4. Chapter 1: Introduction 1
  5. Chapter 2: Early Modern English: Overview 8
  6. Chapter 3: Phonology 27
  7. Chapter 4: Morphology 47
  8. Chapter 5: Syntax 68
  9. Chapter 6: Lexicon and semantics 89
  10. Chapter 7: Pragmatics and discourse 108
  11. Chapter 8: Dialects 128
  12. Chapter 9: Language contact 150
  13. Chapter 10: Standardization 167
  14. Chapter 11: Sociolinguistics 188
  15. Chapter 12: Pronouns 209
  16. Chapter 13: Periphrastic DO 224
  17. Chapter 14: The Great Vowel Shift 241
  18. Chapter 15: Relativization 267
  19. Chapter 16: Literary language 287
  20. Chapter 17: The language of Shakespeare 309
  21. Index 333
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