Finnish referative constructions as alternatives to subordinate clauses in Finnish Bible translations from 1548 to 2020

Abstract This paper examines the development and use of Finnish referative constructions, which are formed with a participle, from the sixteenth century to the present. The study aims to determine how the use and frequency of these structures have evolved throughout the history of written Finnish. It examines six Finnish translations of the New Testament from 1548 to 2020, comparing participial referative constructions to corresponding subordinate clauses formed with the conjunction että (‘that’), typically used to report speech, thoughts, or perceptions. The findings reveal that the preference for certain matrix verbs to occur with either referative constructions or subordinate clauses has changed during the period examined. Initially, the frequency of referative constructions increased, but it later declined steadily. Referative constructions with a different semantic subject from the main clause are more complex than same-subject constructions, thus being more likely to be changed to subordinate clauses or other constructions.