SVOlike

SVOlike is a descriptive term in linguistic typology used to characterize languages whose canonical word order is near subject–verb–object (SVO) but that permit flexibility in ordering due to discourse, syntax, or morphology. The name is derived from SVO, with the suffix -like indicating similarity rather than strict equivalence. SVOlike languages typically show a dominant basic order of subject, verb, and object in simple declaratives, but they tolerate other orders in subordinate or topicalized clauses (for example, verb-fronting in questions, object fronting for emphasis) or in embedded clauses. The variation is often supported by morphological markings such as case marking, postpositions, or agreement that clarifies the role of each participant.

The distinction between SVOlike and strict SVO languages is a matter of descriptive practice; in strict SVO languages, word order is generally fixed and syntactic relations are maintained without heavy reliance on case marking, while SVOlike languages rely more on such markers to permit flexible order. SVOlike can be found in languages that are often categorized as SVO but with notable variability, including some languages with flexible topicalization or information structure. In linguistic analysis, SVOlike is used as a pragmatic label rather than a rigid typological category, helping to describe data that do not fit entirely into canonical SVO or other rigid word-order classes.