there exists a widespread structuralist tendency in the study of the relative clause, which over-emphasizes its NP nature and accordingly its reference function. It is argued in this thesis that a relative clause connotes a predication while performing as a reference. A textual study of it shows that relativization serves as a means of increasing the continuity of topic as well as one of realizing the foreground-background structure. A recategorization of the relative clause is offered at the end, based on its pragmatic function, namely, reference and predication, the nature of the head noun and the informative status of it.