Object-initial languages

[Matthew S Dryer]

My typological database codes 10 languages as having object-initial order
as the dominant order in clauses containing a nominal subject and a
nominal object.

Six of these are OVS:

Pari (Nilotic; Sudan)
Mangarayi (non-Pama-Nyungan; northern Australia)
Ungarinjin (non-Pama-Nyungan; northern Australia)
Selknam (Tierra del Fuego)
Asurini (Tupi-Guarani; Brazil)
Hixkaryana (Cariban; Brazil)

Four are OSV:

Tobati (Austronesian; West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya))
Wik Ngathana (Pama-Nyungan; north Queensland)
Warao (Venezuela)
Nadeb (Brazil)

A further relevant reference is

Tomlin, Russell.  1986.  Basic Word Order: Functional Principles.  London:
Croom Helm.

Matthew Dryer