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Lesson 41: Embedded Relative Clauses

Embedded Relative Clauses

A relative clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun (in this sentence, "that modifies a noun" is, itself, a relative clause modifying the noun phrase "dependent clause"). A clause in Láadan is defined as: (Auxiliary) + Verb + (Negative) + Noun Phrase(s). In Láadan, unlike in English, the embedded relative clause contains the noun phrase it modifies.

To embed a sentence as a relative clause, add the ending "-háa" to the last word of the embedded sentence.

When "-háa," the suffix for embedding a relative clause, follows the Place Case suffix, "-ha," it changes to "-sháa." [Formally, the "h" is deleted and "sh" is inserted it its place.] This is to avoid the sequence "-ha+háa," which becomes "-ha+sháa."

Vocabulary


	bú		to be perverse; to be quirky; to be odd; to be hard to understand
	bun		new (of inanimates; differentiated from "rabalin" [ra- (non-) + balin (old, of persons/creatures)]
	-háa (variant: -sháa)		Suffix (embedded clause): Relative Clause Embedding marker
	heb		down (direction)
	héeda		to be sacred; to be holy
	hu		boss, ruler
	olowod		group [wod (sit)]
	mahin		cooking pot
	mel		paper
	rawedeth		to be murky; obscure

Examples


	Bíi láad ehá mehaba mahinahé wa.		The scientist perceives that the flowers are fragrant.
	Bíi láad ehá mehaba mahinahée wa.		The scientist perceives if/whether the flowers are fragrant.
	Bíi láad ehá mehaba mahinaháa wa.		The scientist perceives the flowers that are fragrant.

The three examples above illustrate how the three types of embedding in Láadan change the meanings of otherwise identical sentences. In this very simple third example, it is true that the same meaning could have been conveyed using the relativizing morpheme instead of embedding a relative clause, giving "Bíi láad ehá mewohaba womahinath wa." On the other hand, using the embedded relative clause structure allows us to also use the relativizing morpheme, as illustrated below.


	Báa eril láad ne hal wodo wowithehé?		Did you perceive that the strong woman worked?
	Báa eril láad ne hal wodo wowithehée?		Did you perceive whether the strong woman worked?
	Báa eril láad ne hal wodo wowitheháa?		Did you perceive the strong woman who worked?

The embedded relative clause may, of course, have one or more case phrase(s) with Case endings within it. The embedded clause, since it takes the place of a noun phrase in the larger sentence, may also require a Case ending that refers to the entire embedded clause. This clause-level Case ending will follow the embedding marker; a Case ending on the final noun internal to the embedded clause will occur before the embedding marker.


	Bíi di le hal witheháanal wa.		I speak like (in the manner of) the woman who works.
	Bíi di le hal witheháada wa.		I speak for (on behalf of) the woman who works.
	Bíi di le hal witheháadi wa.		I speak to the woman who works.

And one more, slightly more adventurous, example: "Bíi íthi sháad with bodiháa wa." Since "sháad with bodi," the embedded clause, is the Subject of the larger sentence, it needs no Case ending to follow the "-háa." But there are two noun phrases within the embedded clause, the Subject, "with," and the Goal, "bo." So would the sentence as a whole mean "The woman who went to the mountain is tall" or "The mountain the woman went to is tall?" We can disambiguate using the Focus Marker, as follows:


	Bíi íthi eril sháad withehóo bodiháa wa.		The woman who went to the mountain is tall.
	Bíi íthi eril sháad with bohóodiháa wa.		The mountain the woman went to is tall.

And one more example, even more complex because it has two internal case phrases and the entire embedded clause is a Goal case element:


	Bíi aril sháad le habelid lan letho bohóohasháadi wa.		I shall go to the mountain where my friend dwells.

Note that we have to use the variant embedding marker, "-sháa" in this example because it follows "-ha", the Place case suffix.

Exercises

Translate the following into English.


1	Bóo yod ra ne mehaba mahinaháa.
2	Báa radazh ham bad yedehasháa?
3	Bíi eril noshumáad babí naya with shamidetheháadi wa.
4	Bíi áhesh omá mewéedan bedihá áabeth menedebeháa wáa.
5	Báadu lali aril dutha damaháa?
6	Bíi aril edethi ril edeláad onidaháa wa.

Notice, in #1 and #2, that the embedded sentences are the Subjects of these sentences.

We also see, in #2, the verb "radazh" for the first time. Just as you may expect, it means "to be hard; to be firm" [ra- (non-) + dazh (to be soft; to be pliant; to be yielding)].

Also in #2, we see "-sháa," the alternate form of "-háa," which occurs when it follows "-ha," the Place case ending.

In #4, we see the embedded clause "mewéedan bedihá áabeth menedebe" (students read many books) as the Object of the verb "áhesh" (to be responsible). This needs to be noted in the definition of "áhesh": that, if it takes an Object, the thing or person over or for which/whom the Subject is responsible is that Object.

Change the embedded sentence/question into a relative clause; translate into English before and after.


7	Báa dom hu marithu eril shóod withidehé?
8	Bíi héeya onin rilrili delishe diháhée wáa.
9	Bíi eril láad halá oyinan them ehá denethehé wa.
10	Bíi ril lothel ehená mebú nedeloth menedebehé wa.
11	Báa en bebáa habelid wolíithi woháalaá sheshihahée?
12	Bíi ulanin imá meyom wethehée wáa.

In #10 we see "nedeloth" (fact); it is formed from "nede" (one) + "loth" (information).

Translate the following into Láadan.


13	The child stroked the dog that was gentle.
14	The sudden storm broke the bridge that was old.
15	I shall (a promise) dance with the farmer who traveled.
16	Someone who stays at home may be a housekeeper.
17	My friend knows many who intended to go to the mountain.
18	Several who play music have a meal of fish and vegetable.

Notice, in #14, that the relativizing morpheme does the same conceptual work in the Subject that the embedded relative clause does in the Object.

In #16, did you remember to use the alternate form of "-háa?"

Also in #16, we see the word "elodá" [e- (science of) + lod (household) + -á (doer)], a new word, meaning "doer of household-science, housekeeper". Of course, it's used here in an Identifier structure, so no suffix is required.

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Answers


1	Please do not eat the flowers that are fragrant.
2	Is the mineral that is in the valley hard?
3	The bird finished flying to the woman who was caring for the domestic animal.
4	The teacher is responsible for students who read many books.
5	Is rain the touch that will heal (asked poetically)?
6	The family that believes will share.

7	Does the ruler of the island remember that the man was busy? Báa dom hu marithu shóod withideháa? Does the ruler of the island remember the man who was busy?
8	The nurse fears that the speaker may cry. Bíi héeya onin rilrili delishe dihéháa wáa. The nurse fears the speaker who may be crying.
9	The worker saw that the scientist needed help. Bíi eril láad halá oyinan them ehá denetheháa wa. The worker saw the scientist who needed help.
10	The philosopher knows that many facts are hard to understand. Bíi ril lothel ehená mebú nedeloth menedebeháa wa. The philosopher knows many facts that are hard to understand.
11	Who understands whether the white butterfly dwells in sand? Báa en bebáa habelid wolíithi woháalaáhóo sheshihasháa? Who understands the white butterfly that lives in sand?
12	The traveler studies whether the roads are safe. Bíi ulanin imá meyom wetheháa wáa. The traveler studies the roads that are safe.

13	Bíi eril lámála háawith lema lanemideháath wa.
14	Bíi eril then wobishib worohoro balin oódóoháath wáa.
15	Bé aril amedara le eril im ábedáháaden wa.
16	Bíi rilrili benem beye bethehasháa elodá wa.
17	Bíi ril an lan letho eril nédeshub sháad beyenehóo bodiháa wáa.
18	Bíi methi mehalehale beyezheháa anadaleth thilithu i medathu wa.

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