ところの

[chryuop]

I was reading in one of my books about relative clause and I found something that puzzled me. I will try to translate the part I'm referring to.

"Relative phrase comes right before the noun it refers to. There are no relative pronouns (such as which, whom, where...). However, due to the need of translating from European languages, it was created the form V-base 4+ところの+Noun, which is not used. For example 彼が捨てたところの女-the woman who was abandoned."

It is not really clear to me the part where it says "it was created a form" and "it is not used". Does that mean it is not grammatically correct or it is just something you find in document? So if a European book is translated in Japanese, do they actually use that form? Or my book is just fantasizing?

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by chryuop

"Relative phrase comes right before the noun it refers to. There are no relative pronouns (such as which, whom, where...). However, due to the need of translating from European languages, it was created the form V-base 4+ところの+Noun, which is not used. For example 彼が捨てたところの女-the woman who was abandoned."

It's correct but seldom used. The usual phrase is 彼が捨てた女 and this carries all of the meaning intended by the speaker; therefore, ところの is redundant and unnecessary.

You will only sound weird if you say things like:
私が食べたところのピザ
ジョンが買ったところの車
スミスさんがよく行くところのレストラン
Do read these out loud and you will know they are mouthful.　What's mouthful, we know to avoid saying.

There is at least one more reason that you want to avoid using ところの in a relative clause. Consider the following phrases:
1. 私が食べたところのピザ
2. 私がピザを食べたところ

Both are correct but they mean completely different things.
1. the pizza that I ate
2. the place where I ate pizza

To avoid confusing the listener, we won't say 私が食べたところのピザ but say 私が食べたピザ.

it is just something you find in document?

Never personally have seen it in legal/business documents.

So if a European book is translated in Japanese, do they actually use that form?

No, not at all. You are not going to see ところの even once in most books, translated or otherwise.

Or my book is just fantasizing?

Regarding this particular topic, yes.