12.3 - Correlative clauses
Correlative clauses are an alternate device to embedded clause, where the counterpart of the embedded clause is presented as an antecedent or topic and the counterpart of the main clause is presented as a consequent or explanation. This requires that the relationship between the two clauses be expressed by a coordinating conjunction introducing the second clause, and/or by a resumptive pronoun which references a prominent constituent of the first clause.
The most common usage of correlatives is for the relative correlative:
[1] ná ágam máttuur tárii, muuníí muun máram addáttirran
and who? warrior to.win.IMPFCT.3S this.OBL it him chief to.bestow.a.gift.to.OPTATIVE.3S
(And) the chief will bestow a gift to the warrior who wins (lit. Which warrior wins, the chief will give him a gift)
The salient word is marked with the interrogative pronoun, as in the example above, or by means of the particle táá.
Other usages are also possible, and the typical construction of the declarative for subject clause is an example of mixture between correlatives and embedded clauses.
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