Relative clauses between coordination and subordination

This paper deals with coordination and relative clauses, and aims to show that a diachronic perspective, based on a functional cross-linguistic point of view, can support the results of a formal synchronic approach. However, I do not claim to be concerned with formal representations; I only intend to examine some interesting data taken from Latin. More specifically, I want to point out the crucial function of relative clauses in the development of subordination starting from structures very close to coordination.