Relativization in Chadic: a Case Study of Musgum, Masa, Wandala and Giziga

Abstract

Abstract: The paper addresses relative clause formation in four Chadic languages spoken in the upper north region of Cameroon, namely Musgusm, Masa, Wandela and Giziga. Relative clauses are introduced by a relativizer which agrees in gender and number with the head noun (Masa). In these languages, the unmarked relative position is DP REL and the relativizer modifies DPs. It is argued that the promotion analysis (Schachter 1973, Vergnaud 1974, Kayne 1994 is used to derive relative clause in these languages since wh-relatives aren’t attested in these languages. Furthermore, the accessibility hierarchy devised by Keenan and Comrie is respected in these languages: Subject, Direct Object, Indirect object of pre-or postposition as well as Possessor are relativizable positions in the aforementioned languages. Following Biloa (2013), it is argued that the landing site of relativization is the specifier position of Relative Phrase (RelP) that the head hosts relativizer.