Relativization strategies in Apurinã (Arawakan)

Abstract

A system of relative clauses is described for the Apurinã language (Arawakan). The system consists of a complex morphemic cluster that, although it can be segmented into four distinct morphemes, acts as a morphological construction marking relative clauses in this language. This complex four-part construction encodes functions typically associated with relative clauses in other languages such as grammatical relations (subject and object), and functions atypical for the grammatical encoding of relative clauses such as voice, polarity, number and gender. A brief attempt to situate the system in terms of the typology of relative clause is also presented.

Keywords

• Relative clauses
• Typology
• Apurinã
• Arawakan