Some aspects of Malay relativization : A transformational account by deletion.

Main author: Halimah Wok, Awang
Format: Theses           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-28602
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description The present study is an attempt to provide an explicit account of Malay relative clause formation using the transformational approach. It aims at providing an analysis which can characterize Malay relative clauses in the most adequate manner. Various analyses which have been proposed for English are examined and their problem as applied to Malay discussed. It is found that there is no justification for assuming that yang, introducing relative clauses is a relative pronoun and I propose that this element be analyzed as a complementizer. The standard analysis of relative clause formation, ie the wh-movement analysis, is found to be inadequate for describing Malay relatives and as an alternative a deletion rule is proposed. It is shown, however, that only nominals in the left-most position of the embedded clause may be relativized (deleted) and it is argued that whenever the relativized element does not occupy this position, other rules such as Passives, Topicalization, Tough Movement and Left-Dislocation have to apply prior to relativization process. The proposed analysis is found to be capable of accounting not only for restrictive relatives but also for free relatives as well as non-restrictive relatives.
format Theses
author Halimah Wok, Awang
author_facet Halimah Wok, Awang
authorStr Halimah Wok, Awang
author_letter Halimah Wok, Awang
title Some aspects of Malay relativization : A transformational account by deletion.
publisher SOAS University of London
publishDate 1981
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/28602/