Datapoint Kriol/Order of subject, object, and verb

The word order in transitive declarative clauses with full subject and object noun phrases is subject-verb-object (SVO) in all varieties, except in topicalising or focussing constructions. The following example (spoken, Victoria River, Older Generation) illustrates OSV as a marked word order for object focus: Fish yu bin getim [fish 2SG PST get-TR] 'Fish you got'.

Values

Subject-verb-object (SVO)

Example 25-1:
Wan litel gel bin katimbat wud blanga Jein.
Wan
one
litel
little
gel
girl
bin
pst
kat-im-bat
cut-tr-prog
wud
wood
blanga
dat/poss
Jein.
Jane
One/a certain little girl was cutting wood for Jane.
Example 25-2:
Wan moning jad olgamen bin dringkimbat ti.
Wan
one
moning
morning
jad
dem
olgamen
woman
bin
pst
dringk-im-bat
drink-tr-prog
ti.
tea
One morning the woman was drinking tea.

Source: Bennett 1986: 6

Example 25-4:
Stakmen bin barnim gras.
Stakmen
stockman
bin
pst
barn-im
burn-tr
gras.
grass
The stockmen burnt the grass.

Source: Sandefur 1979: 114

Example 25-5:
Dij kamel im likimbat bo dat kanggaru irrahol.
Dij
prox
kamel
camel
im
3sg
lik-im-bat
lick-tr-prog
bo
dat
dat
dem
kanggaru
kangaroo
irrahol.
ear
This camel is licking the kangaroo's ear.
Example 25-6:
Orla kid bin tjakam ston.
Orla
pl
kid
child
bin
pst
tjak-am
chuck-tr
ston.
stone
The children threw stones.

Source: Hudson 1985: 37

Confidence:
Very certain