Relative

（1）（relativization）关系语

（2）相对共相

（3）相对年代学

(1) A term used in grammatical description to characterize pronouns which may be used to introduce a postmodifying clause within a noun phrase, and by extension to the clause as a whole. In classical transformational grammar, the process of forming a relative-clause construction is known as relativization.

(2) A term used in linguistic theory to refer to a type of universal. A relative universal is one which characterizes a general tendency in a language, and allows for exceptions; it contrasts with absolute universal.

(3) A term used in historical linguistics, referring to one way of characterizing the temporal relationship between language changes: to say that one change occurs before another is a statement of relative chronology. A contrast is intended with absolute chronology, where it is possible to state the specific time-periods when the changes took place.

（1）语法描写用来指一类代词，可在一名词短语内引入一个后修饰小句，进而指引入的整个小句。在经典的转换语法中，形成一个关系小句构式的变化过程称作关系小句化。

（2）最近的语言学理论用来指一类语言共相，体现的是语言的一般倾向，允许有例外，与绝对共相对立。

（3）历史语言学术语，指说明一系列语言演变之间时间关系的一种方式，即说一个演变发生在另一个演变之前。与绝对年代学相对，后者可以明确说明演变发生的特定年代。