Relative Clauses Introduced by Adverbial Relativizers in Arabic

Relative Clauses Introduced by Adverbial Relativizers in Arabic

DIZDAR, Elma

Key words: relative clauses, adverbial relativizers, relative clause formation strategies, equi type, relative-pronoun strategy ABSTRACT Relative clauses in Arabic choose among a range of relativizers, including adjectival and substantive pronouns and adverbial relativizers. Depending on a number of factors, including the choice of relativizers, they also embrace different relative clause formation strategies. Based on the typology of relative clause formation strategies proposed by E. Keenan and B. Comrie, this paper focuses on description of the formation strategy, or rather strategies of Arabic relative clauses introduced by adverbial relativizers. In attempt to define the formation strategy of this type of Arabic relative clauses, the paper distinguishes between free relative clauses introduced by adverbial relativizers in Arabic and those with antecedents. As shown in examples of sentences taken from modern Arabic literature, the two mentioned classes of Arabic relative clauses introduced by adverbial relativizers seem to involve different relative clause formation strategies. Thus, while free relative clauses show a striking similarity with the equi type of relative clauses, relative clauses with antecedents fit much better into the relative-pronoun strategy.

Article
PeerReviewed

IBU Publishing

2013-05-03

1762