Microvariation in the Distribution of Resumptive Pronouns in the Left Dislocation Construction in Two Tyrolean Dialects of Northern Italy

In this paper we document a so-far neglected case of microvariation involving resumptive pronouns in the left-dislocation construction Meranese, spoken South Tyrol, and Mòcheno, Fersina valley (Trentino). While standard German elements belong to class D-pronouns, two Tyrolean dialects considered exhibit, as pronouns, both (i) D-pronouns (ii) pronominal usages distal demonstrative formed by definite article (D) sèll corresponding ‘that one’. We show that languages D+sèll forms overlap with most contexts, whereas only superficially, but not functionally, correspond have undergone weakening process. process is nuce it seems be nearly completed where appear acquired status close subject clitics Northern Italian varieties.