This thesis deals with the structure of relative clause in Silt'i. The work isrnmore of descriptive than theoretical; however, some aspects of the properties ofrnrelative clause of Silt'i have been analyzed in terms of the theoreticalrnassumptions of the Principles and Parameters theory (Government and BindingrnTheory).rnThe relative clauses that are found in Silt'i are of two types: restrictive andrnnon-restrictive relative clauses of which their difference depends on theirrnreferential relation to the head nouns. Moreover, Silt'i relative clauses may bernclassified into lexically headed and empty-headed relatives, depending on thernphonetically presence and absence of the head noun.rnThe various relativized NP positions and the strategy that is employed inrnrelativization have also been examined. Thus, Silt'i relativizes subject, objectrn(direct and indirect), and adjunct positions, and the specifier position of genitivernof possession. Consequently, the accessibility hierarchy of relative clausernformation proposed by Keenan and Comire (1977) has been justified. ThernStrategy employed to form relative clause has been found to be pro in situ, as isrnthe case in other Ethiopian languages such as Oromo (Baye1986), Gumuzrn(Asfaw 1993), Chaha (Alemayehu 1990).rnMoreover, the study examines the properties of relative verbs that are thernmajor constituents of relative clause. In Silt' there are two forms of relative verb:rnthe perfective relative verb and the imperfective one. Both the perfective andrnimperfective verbs get inflected for agreement markers of the relativized NPs.rnThe element ya-, which is prefixed only to perfective relative verb, but not tornimperfective verb, functions as a linking element between a relative clause andrnits head noun. In other words, this element introduces the relative clause to thernhead noun.rnrnKey words: relative clause, Siltâ€™i, descriptive, principles and parametersrntheory, restrictive relative clause, lexically headed empty-head relatives,rnsubject relativaization, object relativaization, adjunctrnrelativaization,genetive possession relativaization, pro insitu, perfectivernimperfective relative verb, ,element yÃ¤