THEORY: Connections Between Word-Order and Typology

Hey everyone!

I was wondering if anyone knows whether a relationship exists between word-
order and basic typology in languages.  It seems to me that left-branching
languages would tend to prefer ergative-absolutive, while right-branching
languages would tend to prefer nominative-accusative.  That is, of course,
if all other things are equal (which is never the case :P ).  I also think
this relationship is due to the core argument that is closest to the verb -
the object in left-branching languages and the subject in right-branching
ones.  What do y'all think?

- Rob

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