Latin as an SDOV Language: The Evidence from Cicero
Charles Eleric · Journal of Latin Linguistics · 1990
Abstract Both statistical and non-statistical analysis supports a claim that the Latin of Cicero is SDOV. Of 24 bitransitive strings from a representative sample, 21 show either the SDOV order or its common alternate SODV, or are principled departures from these orders, generally from SDOV. SDOV is the rule in clauses that are (1) discourse neutral, that (2) present special discourse challanges either because they involve gapped constituents or are expecially long, or that (3) have verbs of transfer that are lexically marked, e.g.