ADJECTIVE CLAUSES: A SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW
Keywords:
Keywords: Adjective clause, relative clause, restrictive clause, relative pronouns, syntactic complexity, clause modification, noun, phrase, modification, subordinate clauses, cross-linguistic syntax, phrasal complexity, language background, cognitive processing of clauses.Abstract
Abstract: Adjective clauses, also known as relative clauses, are critical components in syntactic theory, serving to modify nouns by embedding additional descriptive information. This paper explores the formal structure, types, and cognitive functions of adjective clauses, with a focus on English while drawing comparisons across languages such as Japanese and Spanish. Two primary types of adjective clauses-restrictive and non-restrictive-are discussed, highlighting their role in limiting or adding non-essential details to the noun they modify. Additionally, cross-linguistic analysis reveals variations in the placement and use of relative pronouns and adverbs. Studies in academic writing suggest that the complexity of adjective clauses is influenced by factors such as language background and genre, with non-native speakers often relying more on simpler syntactic constructions. This research contributes to understanding the syntactic, cognitive, and pragmatic roles of adjective clauses in both native and non-native contexts, offering insights into how syntactic structures evolve based on proficiency and linguistic exposure.
References
PLOS ONE: “A Corpus-based Comparison of Syntactic Complexity in Academic Writing”
(https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238867).
MIT Press Scholarship: “Syntactic Structures and Clause Analysis”.
MIT Press portal MIT Press Scholarship (https://academic.oup.com/mit-press-scholarship-online/book/19047).
