Based on the examination of remnant VP-topicalisation constructions, this paper argues for an order preservation analysis to Scandinavian Object Shift. Reviewing Fox & Pesetsky's (2003, 2005a,b) cyclic linearization approach and extending the empirical data base, we hope to show that the phenomena are better accounted for in an Optimality Theoretic framework.
To support this, we shall discuss three asymmetries related to OS during remnant topicalisation: between OS of a direct object and OS of an indirect object (section 4.1), between remnant topicalisation out of a main clause and remnant topicalisation out of an embedded clause (section 4.2), and between OS in particle verb constructions in Danish and in Swedish (section 4.3).