Gentle readers:

I crave the benefit of your refined sensibilities in a matter of usage.
In his famous 1956 prolegomenon“A Plea for Excuses”, Austin offers us these four sentences to illustrate the ways in which the position of an adverb can affect its meaning.

a1. He clumsily trod on the snail.
a2. Clumsily he trod on the snail.
b1. He trod clumsily on the snail.
b2. He trod on the snail clumsily.

Austin claims that first two sentences ( a1,a2) imply that the treading was incidental to the performing of some other act, while the second two examples (b1,b2) imply that it “very likely, his aim or policy” and "what we criticize is his execution of the feat." [ Phil. Papers 3rd Ed., p.199 ]

The position of an adverb can indeed affect its meaning.
In a1 the adverb is in what linguists call the medial position. In a2 in the initial position. In b1 in the initial-end position ( or postposition). In b2 in the end position. Different kinds of adverbs prefer different positions, and different positions have different connotations, especially when the positioning is uncommon.

B2, the grammar books tell us, is the common position for an adjunct adverb of manner. Shifting "clumsily" to initial position in a2, called "fronting", is probably the least common positioning for this kind of adverb.

But setting these general considerations aside, and looking just at the four sentences above—uttered, should we assume, in the same context—do you agree with Austin’s call that that the a’a are incidental and the b’s deliberate?

Once you have stabilized your intuitions on that question, there are two further pitches from Austin to swing at. Consider the result of setting off the adverb in b1 with commas:

c1. He trod, clumsily, on the snail.

C1 “might be used for a1”, Austin says.

And a2 might be used as “a poetic inversion for b2.”

I shall contain myself and invite your comments.

( One issue: is acting "clumsily" or "awkwardly" something one can do as a matter of policy? I suppose in some unusual circumstances someone who is normally skilful and careful could be accused of being "intentionally clumsy", but that pairing sounds very odd, almost oxymoronic. The implication is perhaps that one is pretending or feigning clumsiness. Normally, however, clumsiness denotes a lack of dexterity and flexibility that afflicts a person who most definitely does not wish to be so afflicted. No author or artist cultivates a deliberately clumsy style. )