M.A. (African Languages) / In spite of the fact that Northern Sotho is reasonably established as a written language and is used as an educational medium at schools and universities, there are still aspects of its grammar that are either incorrectly or incompletely described. Where the relative construction is concerned, quite a few such insufficiencies exist. This study aims to clarify these problems. The aim of the study is threefold. First the different forms of the relative clause as published in existing works are examined. Second, the nature of constructions in spoken and written Northern Sotho is tested with existing conceptions as published and possible variants charted. Third the 'linguistic implications and the validity of existing opinions regarding the relative clause are tested. The possible influences of other Sotho languages are also taken into consideration...

D.Litt. et Phil. / Please refer to full text to view abstract