> I think the subject-verb inversion after sentence-initial non-subject
> in the Germanic languages other than English makes those languages
> partly VSO.
Not if you are talking about 'basic word order' (which VSO usually means)
because the VS orders in Germanic are marked. But if you are talking
about characterising the basic constituent order I belive V2 is the
appropriate and generally accpeted term.
> Where did that inversion come from?
Good question.
I for one don't know any other languages that mark questions by
inverting the 'basic' order of SV. Languages with different order
if another constituent that the subject is fronted I believe should
be easier to find.
mvh
Harald