Relative clauses in Oscan and Latin

The development of new syntactic structures through language contact

Abstract

This paper takes as its starting point an Oscan inscription which shows several remarkable syntactic features: a relative–correlative order; repetition of the antecedent in the relative and the main clause; and fronting of two constituents out of the relative clause. This inscription been cited by some scholars as an example of archaic Indo-European syntactic patterns but others view these features as the result of language contact with Latin. Through comparison of material both in Oscan and other languages in the Sabellic family, as well as consideration of the evolution and use of relative–correlative syntax in Latin, I show that the language contact explanation is to be preferred. I further argue that inherited Oscan syntax can help explain the repetition of the antecedent.