[Grammar] Relative clauses

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saheleh

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Hi

I have a question about relative clause.i was reading a text. In the text there was a sentence that was confusing for me. The whole sentence was as follows:
The language,used among women of the yao ethnic group in hunan province,is believed to be the world's only women's language.

My question: as far as i know relative pronouns can not be ommited in non-defining clauses,so why" which is" that is supposed to be after comma and before the word used is ommitted in above sentence?
Thanks a lot for your help
 

Matthew Wai

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I think 'used among women of the Yao ethnic group in Hunan province' is a participial phrase modifying 'language', so 'which is' is not needed.
 

MikeNewYork

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The phrase starting with "used" is a reduced relative clause. It would be a defining relative clause. There would be no commas around it.
 

Matthew Wai

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Could it be non-defining in the context below?

'In China, Nushu is a language that no men could read. The language, used among women of the Yao ethnic group in Hunan province, is believed to be the world's only women's language.'
 

MikeNewYork

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