2.9 Relative clauses 19analyse as a (minimal) demonstrative in apposition to the focalized constituent.
This ά is treated as clause-initial, and is followed by any clitics that may be
present. The ά shows that the preceding element is a focalized constituent, as
opposed to a pre-clausal topic NP. (17.a) illustrates non-subject focalization,
(17.b) subject focalization. Brackets demarcate the core clause.
(17) a. am-an [a t-srha]
water-MaPl [Foe 3FeSgS-want.Reslt]
'Water [focus] is what she wants.'b. ksemm [a-\hi 1-nhaey-aen]
2FeSg [Foc-\lSgO 3MaSg-see.PerfP-Partpl.MaSg]
'It was you-FeSg [focus] who saw me.'In subject focalization (17.b), the verb appears as a participle, and has
3MaSg agreement with ά, regardless of the gender-number features of the
focalized NP.2.9 Relative clauses
Relative clauses must be subdivided in two ways. The first distinction is
subject relatives versus non-subject relatives. The former are expressed with
participles (specified as MaSg, FeSg, or PI), the latter with regular inflected
verbs (with occasional ablaut modifications).
The second distinction is between indefinite and definite relatives. In
indefinite relatives, the clause-internal head is a simple noun, or a special
indefinite demonstrative 1. In definite relatives, if there is a "head noun" it is
outside the relative clause proper. The "head noun" is, however, followed by a
definite demonstrative in apposition to it, e.g. MaSg w-ά 'this', and this
demonstrative functions as the clause-internal head. Any clitics are added to
the clause-internal head.
Schematically, the four basic patterns can be illustrated as in (18).(18) Relative Clause Typesa. indefinite subject relative
[man(Aclitics) 3MaSgS-eat.LoImpfP-Partpl.MaSg dogs]
'a man who eats [long imperfective] dogs'b. indefinite non-subject relative
[man(Aclitics) see.PerfP-lSgS]
'a man whom I saw [perfective]'