The Structural Properties of English Relative Pronouns

I intend to propose an analysis of the varying behaviour of English relative pronouns in headed and headless (free) relative clauses. Stemming from the observation that some relative pronouns may only form headed relative clauses (such as 'who' and 'which') while others only occur in headless relative clauses (such as 'what'), I will argue that some English relative pronouns are specified as D heads and merged above the relative clause CP, while others are Complementiser heads. I will support this proposition cross-linguistically with evidence from Polish 'light-headed' relatives, which are analysed as comprising of a Comp and a higher D head, both of which are morphologically pronounced. I will also attempt to account for the different distribution of -ever class relative pronouns in English relative clauses.