Chechen extraposed relative clauses

What is it about?

Relative clauses (RCs) normally appear before their head NP in Chechen. They can be positioned clause-finally too -- no matter whether they are appositive or restrictive. The latter possibility has, however, one interesting restriction: restrictive RCs only co-occur with head NPs that are in the default focus position (the position immediately preceding the finite, inflected verb). Hence the link with information structure.

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Why is it important?

This study reveals an interesting interplay between relative clauses and focus. The head NP of a relative clause (e.g. "the woman") triggers the process of referent identification in the mind of the reader, but this process can only be completed with the help of the information contained in the RC (e.g. "who lives in this house"). So when the restrictive RC is detached from the head NP, tension builds. This tension combines with the focus position in Chechen to result in heightened emphasis.