Optimality Theory, markedness and second language syntax: the case of resumptive pronouns in relative clauses

Eckman, Fred R. 2004. Optimality Theory, markedness and second language syntax: the case of resumptive pronouns in relative clauses. Studies in Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology 10.1. 89–110. This paper proposes a constraint-based analysis for what is arguably the most interesting phenomenon in second language (L2) syntax, the occurrence of an L2 error pattern where the regularity cannot be explained in terms of either transfer from the learner’s native language or input from the target language. The case in point for this paper involves the occurrence of resumptive pronouns in the relative clauses of learners of Swedish as a second language. It is argued that the systematicity of the learners’ errors can be explained by independently-motivated assumptions of Optimality Theory. (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee)