In this paper we present an optimality-theoretic model of multiple stages in the acquisition of inflectional categories in three languages: French, Catalan, and Chinese. We begin by reviewing our earlier work on the development of Tense and Agreement in French and Catalan, and then discuss some recent explorations of the development of Aspect in Mandarin Chinese. The model of acquisition we are pursuing, cat in terms of Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993) and using partial constraint rankings evolving over the course of development, has provided interesting results for the Romance languages, and here we report on our initial attempts to extend the model to Mandarin Chinese.
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