Relativization strategies: NP accessibility in Welsh

Abstract

This paper' is concerned with strategies for relative clause formation, both in the universal and language-specific sense. It builds on the pioneering work of Keenan & Comrie (1977) and proposes some extensions to this work. The basic issues addressed here concern what exactly 'case-coding' strategies in relative clause formation are, why languages should use such strategies, and what form the strategies can take. Language-specific illustration is given from Modern Welsh, a language which exhibits some relativization strategies not discussed by Keenan and Comrie, but which nonetheless broadly supports their proposals. The outline of the paper is as follows: Section 2 discusses the Accessibility Hierarchy, giving definitions and re-examining some basic concepts. A new Hierarchy Constraint is introduced, and the effects of this and other proposals concerning the redefinition of case-coding are examined. Section 3 looks at initial consonantal mutation as a strategy in Welsh relative clause formation; Section 4 examines a strategy of demotion from a higher to a lower position on the Hierarchy. Section 5 examines the wider range of relativization strategies which are found, particularly in Colloquial Welsh, towards the lower end of the Hierarchy. A language-specific expansion of the Hierarchy is proposed, and justified.