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complementizer deletion

SYNTAX: the process of deleting a complementizer as in (i). Also: deletion in COMP.

(i)   a I know that he is here
      b I know _ he is here
This deletion has also been taken to apply to wh-words in relative clauses as in (ii).
(ii)  a	the man whom I have seen
      b	the man _ I have seen
The underlying assumption is that the wh-word is in the COMP position. This assumption has been abandoned with the introduction of CP. Now the empty slot '_' in (ii)b is usually analyzed as an empty operator. See that-trace effect.
LIT. Haegeman, L. (1991)
Riemsdijk, H. van and E. Williams (1986)