Datapoint Michif/Order of subject, object, and verb

All permutations of S, V and O are possible. No study has been made on the relative frequency of their order. S and O are marked on the verb, not obligatorily as nouns or pronouns, which means that sentences with overt subjects and objects are rare in discourse. Impressionistically, SOV and SVO are most frequent in texts and in elicitation.

Values

Subject-verb-object (SVO) Frequency: 30.0%

Example 75-1:
Trwaa lii zom kiitahkwamamwak trwa lii suutkees shaak.
Trwaa
three
lii
art.pl
zom
man
kii-tahkwamamw-ak
pst-carry.inan-3pl
trwa
three
lii
art.pl
suutkees
suitcase
shaak.
each
Three men carried three suitcases each.

Source: Fleury 2007

Confidence:
Very certain

Subject-object-verb (SOV) Frequency: 30.0%

Example 75-2:
La shyenn lii ptsi shyaen meekwaat ayaaweew.
La
def.art.f.sg
shyenn
bitch
lii
art.pl
ptsi
small
shyaen
dog
meekwaat
prog
ayaaw-eew.
have.anim-3.sbj.3.obj
The bitch is having pups.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 42

Confidence:
Very certain

Verb-subject-object (VSO) Frequency: 10.0%

Example 75-4:
Kiiwanistaw li zhwal soo likoo.
Kii-wanist-aw
pst-lose.inan-3
li
def.art.m.sg
zhwal
horse
soo
3.poss.m
likoo.
halter
The horse lost its halter.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 123

Confidence:
Very certain

Object-subject-verb (OSV) Frequency: 10.0%

Example 75-6:
Aen beebii la praenses kiiayaweew.
Aen
indf.m.sg
beebii
baby
la
def.art.f.sg
praenses
princess
kii-ayaw-eew.
pst-have.anim-3.sbj.3.obj
The princess had a baby.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 241

Confidence:
Very certain

Object-verb-subject (OVS) Frequency: 10.0%

Example 75-3:
Lii zaray pwaencheu ayaawak li loo pi li minush.
Lii
art.pl
zaray
ear
pwaencheu
pointed
ayaa-wak
have-3pl
li
def.art.m.sg
loo
wolf
pi
and
li
def.art.m.sg
minush.
cat
The cat and the wolf are sharp-eared. OR: Cats and wolves have pointed ears.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 292

Confidence:
Very certain

Verb-object-subject (VOS) Frequency: 10.0%

Example 75-5:
Kiiuchipitam sa tet la torcheu.
Kii-uchi-pit-am
pst-from-pull-3.obj.inan
sa
poss.3.f
tet
head
la
def.art.f.sg
torcheu.
turtle
The turtle retracted its head.

Source: Laverdure and Allard 1983: 267

Confidence:
Very certain