When information structure exploits syntax: The relation between the loss of VO and scrambling in Dutch

This paper addresses the relation between two types of word order variation in stages Dutch: OV/VO historical Dutch and scrambling present-day Dutch. Information structural considerations influence both variation, we demonstrate by means a comprehensive corpus study that they have comparable pattern: given objects tend to appear earlier sentence than new objects. We infer from this are diachronically related. Our findings support an analysis as object movement uniformly head-initial base via specifier VP v P. argue allows spell out its postverbal position, but possibility was eventually lost. Consequently, boundary domains shifts verb adverbial.