Clausal complementation as relativization

It is argued that complement clauses are best analyzed as a special type of relative clauses. Relative clauses typically involve a construction in which a clause contributes the specification of a certain property to a nominal expression. This specification is mediated by a coreference established between some relevant element in the nominal expression (ultimately D) and a constituent of the relative clause, which is usually interpreted in two positions: one where it is base-generated (relativization site) and one where it establishes the coreference relation (the C-layer). Complement clauses have the relativization site at the top of their structure—in the projection specifying the illocutionary force. Special properties of complement clauses with respect to relative clauses are related to the special properties of their relativization site and of their nominal head.