Estados Unidos
This article reflects on the grammaticalization of the postverbal space for direct objects in the evolution of Ibero-Romance. The study focuses on the multiple motivations, both internal and external to the linguistic system itself, that play a complementary role in the consolidation of the order verb-direct object. Aiming to provide a historical look at the consolidation of this pattern in Ibero-Romance, which is preceded by variation between OV and VO, the study highlights evidence cited from the Latin tradition, as well as from the extant texts of the High Middle Ages. In particular, the article provides data from the Iberian documents attributed to the eighth century, whose geography is associated today with La Rioja, Asturias, and Portugal, thereby filling a gap in the historical tracing of the change.