Unlimited Comma Usage in Relative Clauses: A Journey into Recursive Language Structure
Language, as a mode of human communication, holds a unique place among the communication methods of the animal kingdom. One of the defining characteristics of human language is its recursive nature, making it theoretically infinite. This article explores the intricate layers of relative clauses and the seemingly endless use of commas within them. It will delve into why and how language can be constructed without any limit on the number of commas used, yet no conjunctions.
The Infinite Possibilities of Commas in Language
Consider the simple sentence: 'John saw Mary.' This sentence is straightforward and straightforwardly lacks any commas. However, by adding relative clauses, we can introduce an infinite number of commas without adding conjunctions. Here's an example:
Example Sentences with Increasing Comma Usage
1. Basic Sentence: John saw Mary.
2. First Embedding: John, who had spoken to Dave, saw Mary.
3. Second Embedding: John, who had spoken to Dave, who had been seen with Susan, saw Mary.
4. Third Embedding: John, who had spoken to Dave, who had been seen with Susan, who likes to dance with Sam, saw Mary.
5. Further Embedding: John, who had spoken to Dave, who had been seen with Susan, who likes to dance with Sam, who eats pizza with Adam, saw Mary.
Within a relative clause, you can nest another relative clause, and so on. Each additional clause introduces a comma, ultimately leading to an infinite number of commas without the need for conjunctions. This linguistic phenomenon can be represented as follows:
General Formula: John, who had spoken to Dave, who had (nested clauses), saw Mary.
Recursivity: A Fundamental Trait of Human Language
Recursivity, the ability of a language to create hierarchy by embedding smaller structures within larger ones, is a key feature that separates human language from other animal forms of communication. The property of recursion allows language to grow in complexity without any limit. This is why we can have an unending string of relative clauses and commas.
Types of Recursivity in Language
While this article focuses on the recursive nature of relative clauses, there are other forms of recursivity as well. For instance, there are recursive sentences where verbs act as complements to other verbs, such as in:
John said that Jack said that Jessica said that Josephine said that Jerry said hello.
Similar to the example with relative clauses, this can be extended infinitely, creating a deep structure that allows for an extensive range of communication and expression.
Comma Usage in Relative Clauses: Rules and Standards
Comma usage in relative clauses follows specific grammatical rules, which often dictate where commas are necessary and where they are not. For instance, commas are typically used to separate non-essential information within a relative clause. Here are some standard rules:
Non-essential Information: When a relative clause contains information that is not absolutely necessary to the meaning of the sentence, it is usually set off by commas. Essential Information: If a relative clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, it is not set off by commas and typically mirrors the subject and verb structure of the main clause.For example, in the sentence 'John, who had spoken to Dave, saw Mary:', the relative clause 'who had spoken to Dave' is non-essential and thus set off by a comma. In contrast, in the sentence 'John saw Mary, who saw Dave', the relative clause 'who saw Dave' is essential to the meaning and does not have a comma.
Conclusion
The ability to use commas infinitely in relative clauses is a fascinating aspect of human language. It reflects the recursive nature of language, which enables us to construct increasingly complex and nuanced ideas. Understanding these rules and the principle of recursion can help improve writing, making it clearer and more engaging for readers. Furthermore, recognizing the limits and the necessity of commas is crucial for effective communication.