Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures Online

This feature concerns the expression of relative clauses whose head has the instrumental role in the relative clause. A relative clause is defined as a clause that helps narrow the reference of a noun (the head) and in which the referent of the noun head has a semantic role. Relative clauses can be marked by a particle or be left unmarked (zero). The role of the head inside the relative clause can be indicated by a gap (no overt expression), or by a resumptive pronoun. The relative clause and the head’s role may also be marked by the same element a relative pronoun. Relative pronouns are forms that have different subject/object forms or can be combined with an adposition.