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The Evolution of Latin Word (Dis)order

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Book cover Universals of Language Today

Part of the book series: Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory ((SNLT,volume 76))

Abstract

The evolution from Latin to Romance languages involves a typological shift from SOV to SVO order where the change in Object position seems to be anticipated by a gradual construction-by-construction reorientation of constituent order. As a matter of fact, since Early Latin coexisting patterns determine a kaleidoscopic surface complexity that makes it difficult to reduce this language to a coherent system. On the assumption that the typology of word order flexibility is closely intertwined with the diachrony of word order change, this paper investigates the factors influencing grammatical variation and change by discussing both the sources that give rise to the various constructions and the mechanisms governing the choice between alternative orders at different stages. The results will show that, in some cases, grammatical variation depends on processes that are partially independent of the OV/VO dichotomy, and that typological regularities and irregularities in word order typology can be diachronically motivated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bologna, Bologna

    Elisabetta Magni

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  1. Elisabetta Magni
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  1. Università di Bologna, via Cartoleria, 5, 40124 Bologna (BO), Italy

    Sergio Scalise , Elisabetta Magni  & Antonietta Bisetto ,  & 

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Magni, E. (2009). The Evolution of Latin Word (Dis)order. In: Scalise, S., Magni, E., Bisetto, A. (eds) Universals of Language Today. Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, vol 76. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8825-4_12

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