Kaleidoscopic variations on grammatical themes: Relative clauses in Bantoid languages of Cameroon

The diversity of relative clause structures found in Bantoid languages of Cameroon is quite surprising given how closely related these languages are to each other and the fact that they are in relatively close contact. Important parameters of variation are: (i) whether or not the head of the relative clause is coded as being modified, (ii) which arguments can be relativized in a given relative clause construction, (iii) the way that the ''gap'' in the relative clause is encoded, and (iv) similarities and dissimilarities holding between restrictive relative clauses and functionally related constructions (e.g., non-restrictive relative clauses, adverbial subordinate clauses, and clefts). Areas where further research would seem likely to yield interesting results include detailed consideration of the historical source of relative clause markers, the distribution and nature of resumptive pronouns, and restrictions on the verb forms that head relative clauses.