On the Six-Way Word Order Typology, Again.

This paper responds to in Newmeyer (2004, 2005), who gives argument defending the traditional six-way word order typology that classifies languages as SOV, SVO, etc. against arguments in Dryer (1997) in favour of an alternative typology which classifies languages according to two more basic typological parameters, VO vs. OV and VS vs. SV. The paper provides both updated and new data that is relevant to the issues. Although some of the new data actually supports some of the empirical claims made by Newmeyer, I argue that these do not provide any argument in favour of the six-way typology and that Newmeyer misconstrues the issues distinguishing the two typologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]