On the six-way word order typology

A number of arguments are given against the traditional word order typology based on the six types SOV, SVO, VSO, VOS, OVS, and OSV, and in favour of an alternative typology based on two binary parameters OV vs. VO and SV vs. VS. The arguments given include ones based on various advantages of collapsing VSO and VOS into a single type, the infrequency of clauses containing a noun subject and noun object, the value of isolating the more predictive parameter of OV vs. VO, and the fact that the traditional typology ignores the position of intransitive subjects.