Basic intransitive word order[1] refers to the order in which S (the subject) and V (the verbal predicate) appear in a declarative sentence. This order can be determined by examining a sentence that meets the following criteria:

1. The sentence is an independent clause; it has no embedded clauses.
2. The verb is an intransitive verb with only one argument.
3. The verb expresses a conscious, willful action.
4. The subject is a noun, not a pronoun.
5. The sentence does not contain any other phrases, such as adverbials.
6. S is the topic of the sentence.[2]

Once the basic word order is determined, further analysis can reveal if a secondary word order exists:

1. Does the word order remain the same for a sentence that fulfills criteria 1–2 and 4–6 if V does not express a conscious, willful action performed by S? Consider, for example, medial verbs that express occurrences, states, and being. If not, the word order of such sentences is referred to as the language’s semantically based additional word order (smawo).
2. Does the word order remain the same for a sentence that meets criteria 1–4 and 6 if the sentence contains another element besides S and V, such as an adverbial?[3] If not, the word order of such sentences is referred to as the language’s syntactically based additional word order (sntawo).[4]

Types:

NoSV: There is no basic word order; the order of S and V vary.

SV: The basic word order is SV, no additional word order exists.

VS: The basic word order is VS, no additional word order exists.

SV/vs(smawo): The basic word order is SV; the semantically based additional word order is VS.

SV/s~v(smawo): The basic word order is SV; the semantically based additional word order varies.

VS/sv(smawo): The basic word order is VS; the semantically based additional word order is SV.

VS/s~v(smawo): The basic word order is VS; the semantically based additional word order varies.

SV/vs(sntawo): The basic word order is SV; the syntactically based additional word order is VS.

SV/s~v(sntawo): The basic word order is SV; the syntactically based additional word order varies.

VS/sv(sntawo): The basic word order is VS; the syntactically based additional word order is SV.

VS/s~v(sntawo): The basic word order is VS; the syntactically based additional word order varies.

[1] Basic word order is not the same as (statistically) dominant word order.

[2] If the subject is the topic of the sentence, the sentence serves as an answer to the question, What is S doing? Compare this to the questions, Who is V-ing? and What is happening?

[3] The additional element cannot by definition be an object, since that would require a transitive, rather than intransitive, verb. It is important to ensure that the sentence still meets criterion 6.

[4] The circumstances of semantically and syntactically based additional word orders should always be detailed in the commentary.