Relative clauses marking theme in introduction

4.3 Overall story theme indicated by relative clauses

In Fuliiru relative clauses not occurring in reported speech tend to occur at the beginning of the text, where the story theme is presented. They also commonly occur at the conclusion and sometimes at the peak. In all cases they signal that material is thematic. In addition, there are restrictive relative clauses. These are basically the only two environments where relative clauses appear. That is to say, if a clause is not thematic and if it is not restrictive, then it will not appear as a relative clause.

4.3.1 Relative clauses marking theme in introduction

There are many examples where relative clauses are used to mark the theme of the story. In all of the text marked by T3, there are only two relative clauses. The first occurs in the introduction of the story, where the object relative bye igaalya ‘that which it quail would eat’ highlights the theme of the story, which is ‘how the snake eventually ate the quail’. 49 Yâli kizi genda igalooza bye igaalya. It was habitually going looking for what it will eat. ‘It quail was repeatedly going looking for what it will eat.’ T3 1b The second relative clause of T3 is found in line 9, near the peak and is nearly identical, still referring to the theme of eating. 50 Iyo ngware yanagubwira kwo gutulike, gira gugende gugalooza byo gugaalya. That quail told it that it get down so that it going will look for what it will eat. ‘That quail told it snake that it should get down, so that it could go and look for what it would eat.’ T3 9 In 51 the theme revolves around the lion’s desire to catch whoever killed its child. This thematic marking appears right at the beginning of the story tension. 51 “E Wangaavu Nyandi úkanyitira umwana?” O cow Who killed to me the child? ‘O cow Who is the one who killed my child?’ T8 In the introduction to 52, a certain young man wants to marry a girl who looks like his mother and as a result, gets into trouble. This theme is reflected in the two subject relative constructions in line 1, úkalooza ukuyanga umukazi ‘who wanted to marry a woman’ and úshushiini na nyina ‘who resembles his mother’. 52 Hali riiri| umutabana muguma, úkalooza ukuyanga umukazi úshushiini na nyina. There was a young man one who wanted to marry a woman who resembles his mother. ‘There was a young man, who wanted to marry a woman who resembled his mother.’ T9 1 The same theme is again reflected in 53 line 2b, in the object relative yo asiima ‘whom he liked’. 53 Anadeta kwo yehe ndaaye munyere yo asiima. And he said that HE there is no girl that he likes. ‘And he said that [as for] HE [himself] there is no girl that he likes.’ T9 2b

4.3.2 Relative clauses summarizing theme in conclusion