A developmental grammar for syllable structure in the production of child language

The order of acquisition of Dutch syllable types by first language learners is analyzed as following from an initial ranking and subsequent rerankings of constraints in an optimality theoretic grammar. Initially, structural c onstraints are all ranked above faithfulness constraints, leading to core s yllable (CV) productions only. Subsequently, faithfulness gradually rises t o the highest position in the ranking, allowing more and more marked syllab le types to appear in production. Local conjunctions of Structural constrai nts allow for a more detailed analysis. (C) 1999 Academic Press.