Relative Clause in Afaan Oromoo: A Minimalist Approach
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study is about the structure of relative clause in Afaan Oromoo within the framev; ork of
Chomsky's (J 993, 1995) Minimalist Program and other recent developments.
In Afaan Oromoo relative clauses are classified into two: These are restrictive relative L !auses
and non restrictive relative clauses. A res trictive relative clause restricts/delimits the ref-:r ence
of the head NP and non restrictive relative clause give only additional information ab (/u t the
previously iden t ified head NP. Furthermore, Afaan Oromoo restrictive relative c1a ยท-I se is
preceded by a pause in speech or a comma in writing, whereas a res trict ive relative clf, use is
not. Moreover, Afaan Oromoo rela tive clauses are divided into prenominal and postnr, minal
relative clauses depending on whether fh e relative clause precede or follow the head noun.
Among the relativization strategies th e language employs relative pronoun strategy and g f,pping
strategy except in prenominal relative clauses and some aspects of genitive relativizat il) n. In
light of Keenan and Comrie's (I977: 6-) accessibility hierarchy, Afaan Oromoo relatividS ifS
subject, direct object, indirect object, oblique, genitive and object of comparison.
In addition, the study deals with Afaan Oromoo relative verbs which indicate the head nOI Ji1 and
relative pronoun. Afaan Oromoo relative verb divided into peljective relative ver i, and
imperfective relative verb. Perfectir e relative verb describe co mpleted action wherea s
imperfective relative verb expresses incomplete or progressive action.
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