Relative Clauses in English conversation

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Fox ◽  
Sandra A. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Main Clause ◽  
Frequency Effects ◽  
English Relative Clauses

This paper is a usage-based study of the grammar of that set of English Relative Clauses with which a relativizer has been described as optional. We argue that the regularities in the use of relativizers in English can be seen as systematically arising from pragmatic-prosodic factors, creating frequency effects, resulting in some cases highly grammaticized formats: the more the Main Clause and the Relative Clause are integrated with each other, that is, approach monoclausal status, the more likely we are to find no relativizer used; conversely, the more separate the two clauses are, the more likely we are to find an overt relativizer. These findings have led us to suggest that the more monoclausal combinations have become unitary storage and processing chunks. We thus see these findings as a contribution not only to our understanding of Relative Clauses, but to our understanding of syntactic organization in general and of the nature of the grammatical practices in which speakers engage in everyday interactions.

scholarly journals Relative Clauses in Minangkabau, Indonesian, English Languages (Typology Study)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-198
Author(s):  
Akmal ◽  
Mulyadi
Keyword(s):  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Austronesian Languages ◽  
English Relative Clauses

Minangkabau and Indonesian languages are an Austronesian. In this study, it was focused on the typology study of three different languages, namely: Minangkabau, Indonesian, and English relative clauses. It aimed to find out the differences and the similarities of relative clauses among the three languages. This paper also outlines the Accessibility Hierarchy approach to the facts that describe building on relative clause construction. The data was taken from some conversations with Minangkabaunese friends and feedback from the writer as a native speaker of the language in the analysis as well as taking the findings of recent typological and theoretical studies of Austronesian languages into consideration. From the analysis, it is found that Minangkabau and Indonesian languages are same contsruction and the english is different between Minangkabau and Indonesian languages. In the English, it is also possible to have object focus which called object fronting.  

The Effect of Reading on the Acquisition of English Relative Clauses

1996 ◽  
Vol 113-114 ◽  
pp. 263-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yon Ok Lee ◽  
Stephen D. Krashen ◽  
Barry Gribbons
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
The United States ◽  
Length Of Residence ◽  
Pleasure Reading ◽  
Formal Study ◽  
Input Hypothesis ◽  
English Relative Clauses

Abstract 49 adult acquirers of English as a second language took two tests probing restrictive relative clause competence. The amount of reported pleasure reading done by subjects were the only significant predictor of both measures. Neither years of formal study nor length of residence in the United States was a significant predictor. These results are consistent with the input hypothesis.

On the syntactic differences between OE dialects: evidence from the Gospels

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
CRISTINA SUÁREZ-GÓMEZ
Keyword(s):  
Old English ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
English Language ◽  
Main Clause ◽  
Linguistic Variation ◽  
The West ◽  
Linguistic Differences ◽  
Syntactic Differences ◽  
Early English

Old English has traditionally been considered a period of linguistic homogeneity, since most available recorded texts are generally written in the West Saxon dialect. There are, however, isolated texts which have been ascribed to other varieties, in particular Northumbrian and Mercian. In fact, recent research on syntactic dialectology in early English (Kroch & Taylor 1997; Ogura 1999; Hogg 2004, 2006a; Ingham 2006) shows that linguistic variation has been present in the English language from the earliest times. This study reassesses the existence of variation in the syntax of texts belonging to different dialectal varieties in Old English, in particular in relative constructions. Based on an analysis of relative clauses in three versions of the Gospels from late Old English, representing West Saxon, Northumbrian and Mercian dialects, we will observe differences in the texts, regarding both the paradigm of relativizers and the position adopted by the relative clause within the main clause. I relate these differences to the existence of linguistic differences in northern and southern dialects.

The rise and fall of a rogue relative construction

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Deutscher
Keyword(s):  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Head Noun ◽  
Main Clause

In the earliest attested stage of the Akkadian language, relative clauses were introduced by a pronoun which agreed in case with the head noun in the main clause, rather than with the relativized NP in the relative clause. Such a system is extremely rare across languages, is demonstrably dysfunctional, and has been termed ‘inherently disfavoured’. This article attempts to explain how Akkadian acquired this rogue relative construction, and how the language then managed to get rid of it. I argue that this construction was only an unstable way-station in the emergence of a new relative clause in the language. The final section of the article examines the few parallels from other languages to the Old Akkadian system.

Markedness, Discoursal Modes, and Relative Clause Formation in a Formal and an Informal Context

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pavesi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Informal Context ◽  
English Relative Clauses

Typological markedness has been suggested as a possible explanation or a means of predicting the development of Interlanguage (IL) syntax (Eckman, 1977; Hyltenstam, 1978, 1984; Rutherford, 1982). More specifically, the Accessibility Hierarchy (AH) (Keenan & Comrie, 1977, 1979) has been used to predict the acquisitional order of relative clauses in a second language (Hyltenstam, 1984). No research, however, has been conducted to investigate the possible influence of learning context on relative clause (RC) formation. In this study, English relative clauses were elicited from two groups of Italian learners. The first group was composed of 48 formal learners and the second group of 38 informal learners. It was hypothesized that the order as predicted by the AH would be yielded by both groups with the formal group's IL exhibiting more marked structures than the informal group's. The type of discourse—planned versus unplanned—to which learners were mostly exposed was thought to have an effect on the level of linguistic elaboration achieved.

scholarly journals Revisiting the system of English relative clauses: structure, semantics, discourse functionality

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-456
Author(s):  
FRANCIS CORNISH
Keyword(s):  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Relative Degree ◽  
Language System ◽  
Respective Contribution ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
Restrictive Relatives ◽  
Semantic Properties ◽  
English Relative Clauses

The goal of this article is to uncover the system underlying three types of English relative clauses, and to characterise their distinctive uses in discourse: NP-integrated ones, namely restrictive and ‘a-restrictive’ relative clauses, and non-integrated ones, represented by non-restrictive relatives.The area at issue is central, since understanding the functioning of these constructions requires reference to the fundamental interface between grammar (language system) and discourse (language use). The discourse functions of the three subtypes of relatives are claimed to be underlain by their intrinsic morphosyntactic and semantic properties. A major aim is to highlight the relative degree of ‘communicative dynamism’ of each subtype of relative clause, in terms of its respective contribution to the construction of discourse.In doing so, the article focuses on the distinctive properties of presupposed as well as non-presupposed restrictive relatives, and of definite as well as indefinite NPs containing integrated relatives more generally. Along the way, it critically examines certain controversial conceptions of the structural and functional features of the constructions at issue, and, in particular, the claim that there is no essential distinction to be drawn between ‘integrated’ and phrase-external relative clause subtypes at all.

scholarly journals Promoting EFL students’ accuracy and fluency through interactive practice activities

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-395
Author(s):  
Kim McDonough ◽  
Masatoshi Sato
Keyword(s):  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Relative Clauses

This study examined the effectiveness of interactive activities at facilitating EFL students’ production of English relative clauses. Thirty-seven EFL learners in Chile carried out interactive activities designed to elicit relative clauses. Pre- and posttests were used to examine whether carrying out the activities facilitated the students’ production of relative clauses. All interactions were audio-recorded and the transcripts were analyzed to determine how accurately and fluently the students produced relative clauses before, during, and after the practice activities. Whereas accuracy was defined as errors involving relative clause formation, fluency was operationalized in terms of the number of pauses, false starts, and self-corrections that occurred within relative clauses. The results showed that the students produced significantly more accurate relative clauses on the posttest; however, their production of dysfluencies remained unchanged. Implications for the use of interactive activities are discussed.   

A corpus-based validation study of the universal processing hypothesis in English relative clause formation

2005 ◽  
Vol 149-150 ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
Akihiro Ito ◽  
Junko Yamashita
Keyword(s):  
Computer Program ◽  
Validation Study ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Valid Predictor ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
National Corpus ◽  
English Relative Clauses

The present study focuses on spoken and written data in the British National Corpus (BNC). Based on a review of recent studies on English relative clauses, we formulated a Universal Processing Hypothesis (OS >OO>SS> SO) as target hypothesis to be validated using a corpus data approach. A computer program was designed to calculate the frequency of appearance of the four types of relative clauses (OS, OO, SS, and SO). The results indicated this hypothesis to be a valid predictor of frequency of appearance of relative clauses in the domain for written corpus texts. However, it is not supported in context-governed spoken material. Limitations of the present investigation and the direction of future research are also discussed.

scholarly journals The acquisition of German relative clauses: A case study*

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
SILKE BRANDT ◽  
HOLGER DIESSEL ◽  
MICHAEL TOMASELLO
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Main Clause ◽  
Complex Sentence ◽  
New Information ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Simple Sentences ◽  
Single Proposition

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the development of relative clauses in the speech of one German-speaking child aged 2 ; 0 to 5 ; 0. The earliest relative clauses we found in the data occur in topicalization constructions that are only a little different from simple sentences: they contain a single proposition, express the actor prior to other participants, assert new information and often occur with main-clause word order. In the course of the development, more complex relative constructions emerge, in which the relative clause is embedded in a fully-fledged main clause. We argue that German relative clauses develop in an incremental fashion from simple non-embedded sentences that gradually evolve into complex sentence constructions.

The Generalization of Instruction on Genitive Relative Clause in the Acquisition of English as a Foreign Language

2006 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 99-113
Author(s):  
Akihiro Ito
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Japanese Learners Of English ◽  
Special Instruction ◽  
Japanese Learners

This study examines the generalization of instruction in foreign language learning. A group of Japanese learners of English served as participants and received special instruction in the structure of genitive relative clauses. The participants were given a pre-test on combining two sentences into one containing a genitive relative clause wherein the relativized noun phrase following the genitive marker "whose" is either the subject, direct object, or object of preposition. Based on the TOEFL and the pre-test results, four equal groups were formed; three of these served as experimental groups, and one as the control group. Each experimental group was given instruction on the formation of only one type of genitive relative clause. The participants were then given two post-tests. The results indicated that the generalization of learning begins from structures that are typologically more marked genitive relative clauses to those structures that are typologically less marked, and not vice versa.

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