ON RELATIVE CLAUSES AND CASE CODING STRATEGIES IN ẸDO

Abstract

This paper examines the strategies employed for relativization in Ẹdo with respect to the Noun Phrase Accessibility Hierarchy (NPAH) and generalizations about case-coding strategies. Data presented in the study reveal that the Ẹdo language attests - Headed (external) postnominal relative clauses, restrictive relative clauses (exclusively), uses a resumptive pronoun in its recoverability strategy in the relativization of the subject, oblique and genitive positions while other positions on the Accessibility Hierarchy (AH) are relativized without a case-coding strategy. This is contrary to earlier predictions/generalizations with respect to relative clauses, the AH and casecoding strategies.