This paper investigates an alternation found with definite noun phrases in direct object position in Romanian that represents a theoretical puzzle for current theories of Differential Object Marking in this language (Gramatica Limbii Române 2005, Klein & de Swart 2011). When in direct object position and unmodified, definite noun phrases can be accompanied either by the differential object mark...

The observation that not all grammatical realizations in heritage languages can be attributed to transfer from a dominant language has been emphasized several recent works. This paper provides further arguments this direction Romanian. As opposed standard Romanian, the Romanian data examined here do exhibit restriction which blocks overt definiteness on differentially marked object (DOM), when ...